Third Straight Year of High Temps

As we head into the second month of 2017, we now have an idea of all that we left behind last year. One of the biggest discoveries was that 2016 marked the third year in a row of Earth’s highest temperature in recorded history.

To help our planet, educate those on climate change, and introduce newcomers to global warming, we at Cosimo would like to highlight some of our Earth related books:

Earth Fever: Living Consciously with Climate Change by Judy McAllister, Erik Van Praag, and Jan Paul van Soest

The human species is in a rather precarious situation. Poverty, the energy and financial crises, and above all the challenge of climate change mean that our civilization has come to a dangerous edge. Our safety nets-on both collective and individual levels-have been removed. Can we create a future that allows for a dignified society and a peaceful world? With a change of consciousness and a new spirituality, we may.

WATER: The Blood of the Earth - Exploring Sustainable Water Management for the New Millennium by Allerd Stikker

"In this book Allerd describes his convincing views on desalination solutions for local and urban clean water shortages as well as his deeply felt findings on the spiritual meanings of water, all assembled on a 20 years' journey on which I was lucky to travel along."                                                                                                               -- Leonor Lindner

The Tierra Solution: Resolving Climate Change Through Monetary Transformation by Frans C. Verhagen

As climate change continues to threaten the earth and as the global financial crisis lingers, governments and communities need to take charge of their own and global monetary systems. Sustainability sociologist Frans Verhagen proposes a solution-the Tierra Solution-to repair the present global monetary, financial, and economic systems that enrich the few, impoverish the many, and imperil the planet. Verhagen calls for transformational changes in order to advance climate-resilient economic development.

Fanack Water Files: Water Challenges and Solutions in Jordan with a Special Report on the Red Sea-Dead Sea Project

As Earth Day brings awareness to the environmental issues facing us all, so does the Fanack organization bring us awareness about one of the biggest environmental issues being faced in the Middle East: the scarcity of water. "Fanack Water Files: Water Challenges and Solutions in Jordan, with a Special Report on the Red Sea-Dead Sea Project" is the first publication of the Fanack Water Files. It deals in depth with the water situation in Jordan, a critical country in the region bordering Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Israel. For more information about Fanack and water, see also here. 

For more books by these authors, or to expand your knowledge of all things Earth related, visit our website. 

February Book of the Month: Natural Power by Rock Brynner

We are very excited to present the newest addition to our Cosimo Books imprint, our February Book of the Month, Natural Power by Rock Brynner!

The late Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo, once said: "You almost never hear about the New York Power Authority, but you should. It would do us all a lot of good: you can see government at its very best."

Natural Power: The New York Power Authority's Origins and Path to Clean Energy tells the story of the history, mission, and values of the Power Authority of the State of New York. Beginning with the birth of generated electricity in New York State, Natural Power emphasizes the role of inventors like Edison, Tesla, and Westinghouse; investors like J. P. Morgan; and government figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower played in helping to spread electricity from a luxury to a necessity in America.

At its core, the Power Authority played an essential role in establishing public power over the private sector and greatly influenced the development of power from natural resources. It created affordable, sustainable alternatives for citizens across the state with the construction of the Niagara Falls and St. Lawrence River power plants, and provided a template for the rest of the country to establish public power services. Today, this essential public service provides almost a quarter of New York State's power, dedicates much research and development to environmentally-friendly power sources, and consistently leads the vanguard of utilities in sustainability and modernization in the 21st century.

Natural Power is a fascinating read for readers, historians, environmentalists, journalists, and policymakers interested in the birth of electrification, the founding of the New York Power Authority, its role as a public entity and the importance of clean energy when the threats of climate change are obvious to New Yorkers.

For more information, please visit: naturalpowergallery.com or see our press release.

About the Author Rock Brynner is a writer and historian who lives in Pawling, New York. He earned an M.A. in Philosophy at Trinity College, Dublin, and a Ph.D. in U.S. History at Columbia University and has taught US history at Marist College and Western Connecticut State University. This is his tenth book.

About New York Power AuthorityNew York Power Authority  is the country's largest state public power organization, producing some of the cheapest electricity in North America. NYPA is a leader in promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable-fuel technologies.

February Classic of the Month: Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

In honor of Black History Month, Cosimo is proud to present Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup as our February Classic of the Month.

This riveting and harrowing memoir, originally published in 1853, was a best-seller and groundbreaking work during its time. In 1841, free-born African American Solomon Northup was offered a job within his hometown of Saratoga Springs, only to find that it was a trap---leading to him being beaten, drugged, kidnapped, and sold into slavery by his employers. He eventually ended up on a Louisiana plantation owned by Edwin Epps, where he became friends with Canadian carpenter Edward Bass, who was doing work for the plantation owner at the time. Bass secretly contacted Northup's family, who informed New York governor Washington Hunt of his kidnapping. The state was able to use a law passed in 1840, to rescue Northup, that allowed the recovery of free black men who were sold into slavery. Solomon was finally made free again on January 4, 1853.

In 2013 Twelve Years a Slave, a movie based on an adaptation of this autobiography was produced and directed by Steve McQueen: it ended up winning three 2014 Oscars for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress.

This incredible journey is a must-read for all, but may be of particular interest to historians, librarians, or anyone interested in African American History.

About the Author:
Solomon Northup (1808-c. 1875) was a free African American from New York who was deceived, drugged, and sold into slavery in Washington, D.C. in 1841. He was transported to New Orleans and sold to a plantation owner in Louisiana. For several years, he was passed around between slave owners before winding up with plantation owner Edwin Epps. There he met Canadian carpenter Samuel Bass, who helped him regain his freedom in 1853. Solomon spent the rest of his life as an abolitionist. He also assisted with the Underground Railroad in the early 1860s.

Cosimo is thrilled to offer Twelve Years a Slave in hardcover, paperback, and eBook formats at leading online bookstores including Barnes & Noble (paperback, hardcover, and Nook) and Amazon (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle).

Celebrate Valentine's Day with our February Series of the Month

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, Cosimo would like to present our Don'ts For as our February Series of the month to ensure a whimsical and comical day with your loved one.

Don'ts for Wives by Blanche Ebbutt
"Art is a hard mistress, and there is no art quite so hard as that of being a wife." So begins this entertaining and enlightening booklet of Don'ts for Wives. Discussing such categories as "How to Avoid Discord," "Financial Matters," "Food," and "Evenings at Home," Don'ts for Wives is full of advice for ways in which a proper and loving wife should behave toward her husband. Each chapter is comprised of a list of "don'ts" that wives should follow if they wish to run a successful home and keep their husbands happy. While much of the advice is oldfashioned, a surprising number of her recommendations are still applicable today. Also available as an eBook.

Don'ts for Husbands by Blanche Ebbutt 

"Don't look at things solely from a man's point of view. Put yourself in your wife's place and see how you would like some of the things she has to put up with." In this comical, enlightening, and historical booklet originally published in 1913, Blanche Ebbutt shifts sides of the marital equation, delivering advice (some of which still rings true today), to help shape a proper and successful husband. Offering tips on "General Habits," "Jealousy," "Food," and many more timeless topics, Don'ts for Husbands is the perfect gift for anyone interested in the evolution of society, and who ultimately loves to laugh. Also available as an eBook.

Happy Valentine's Day from all of us at Cosimo!

February eBook of the Month: African Unconscious

In honor of Black History Month, Cosimo presents The African Unconscious by Edward Bruce Bynum, with an introduction by Linda James Myers, as our February eBook of the Month!

In this extraordinary and captivating work, Edward Bruce Bynum offers his viewpoint on the roots of human existence. He believes that all humans at their deepest core are variations on the African template. In effect, we possess a shared identity and collective unconscious. This magnificent work is a blend of modern and ancient psychology that provides a relevant backdrop to humanity and our daily life. Looking at phenotypes and psychic structures that form and identify us as human beings, this book is ideal for psychologists, anthropologists, historians and anyone interested in

African American history and culture.

Purchase this eBook at any of the retailers below.

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February Quote of the Month - The greatest victory is that which requires no battle - Sun Tzu

A new month, and new inspiration: we selected our monthly inspirational  quote again from one of Cosimo's classics authors:

"The greatest victory is that which requires no battle"
- Sun Tzu in The Art of War (5th Century BC)

The Art of War was written by a Chinese general, Sun Tzu, and this book became a classic almost instantly 2,500 years ago: initially offering Chinese emperors and military leaders military and strategic advice. This later expanded to military leaders around the world, including being recommended reading in U.S. military libraries. In more modern times, its insights and wisdom have been used in legal negotiations, business strategies, political debates and even sports. It's said that Super Bowl winning coach of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick, read this book and applied its lessons to the world of American Football.

This month's quote, one of many in this truly classic book, is a reminder that being a great winner is someone who uses smart tactics, rather than just fightning one's opponent. A message, which hopefully resonates in the world's great capitals from Moscow to Brussels, from Beijing to Washington DC, and from Teheran to Jerusalem.

Cosimo is proud to offer this book in its original English translation by Lionel Giles in paperback & hardcover.  In order to truly absorb the lessons of this classical text, we also recommend listening to the audio version on Librivox.