Kimiya’S Quest


Book Description

Kimiya was born in India, but from a young age, she felt as though she didnt belong. Some of her earliest memories were premonitions of trivial events that may have had to do with past lives. For a young girl, it was bewildering to consider the possibility of living in different worlds or dimensions simultaneouslyto move back and forth in time and see and hear what others could not. She was locked in a stillness of knowing and yet not knowing and grew accustomed to living in silence with her ghosts, some harmless, some malicious. It was only when she came to realize that she was not alone, that her experiences were not unique, that she decided to talk about her special gift. She began to mentally replay her life, recollecting her experiences of slipping in and out of her body, weaving in and out of time. She recalled premonitions, astral travel, swirling from planet to planet, and other inexplicable events, to the point where she began to doubt her sanity.




The Chief Eunuch of the Ottoman Harem


Book Description

A study of the chief of the African eunuchs who guarded the sultan's harem in Istanbul under the Ottoman Empire.




In Quest of Justice


Book Description

In Quest of Justice provides the first full account of the establishment and workings of a new kind of state in Egypt in the modern period. Drawing on groundbreaking research in the Egyptian archives, this highly original book shows how the state affected those subject to it and their response. Illustrating how shari’a was actually implemented, how criminal justice functioned, and how scientific-medical knowledges and practices were introduced, Khaled Fahmy offers exciting new interpretations that are neither colonial nor nationalist. Moreover he shows how lower-class Egyptians did not see modern practices that fused medical and legal purposes in new ways as contrary to Islam. This is a major contribution to our understanding of Islam and modernity.




The Quest for Aqua Vitae


Book Description

Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is one of the most ubiquitous chemical compounds in the history of the chemical sciences. The generation of alcohol via fermentation is also one of the oldest forms of chemical technology, with the production of fermented beverages such as mead, beer and wine predating the smelting of metals. By the 12th century, the ability to isolate alcohol from wine had moved this chemical species from a simple component of alcoholic beverages to both a new medicine and a powerful new solvent. Of course, this also began the long tradition of production of liqueurs and strong spirits for consumption. The use of alcohol as a fuel, however, did not occur until significantly later periods. This volume presents a general overview of the early history and chemistry of alcohol production and isolation, as well as a discussion of its early uses in both the chemical arts and medicine.







Mysticism and Alchemy through the Ages


Book Description

An in-depth look into the foundations of mysticism and alchemy, this book describes both physical and spiritual aspects of the various theories and practices of transformation, with attention to the beliefs of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sufism, Tantrism, Taoism and Yoga. The connection between early mystical pursuits and the development of alchemy from ancient China, India, and Egypt through Moorish Spain and into Latin Europe are illuminated, along with the activities of early alchemists. The book, which is heavily illustrated, describes the beliefs, experiments, and secret messages that drew the believers and dreamers of the world together in search of wealth and immortality.




Flushed


Book Description

An anecdotal history of plumbing from the Harappan of 3000 B.C. to the modern world is a tribute to such engineering achievements as the lead pipes of the Roman empire, the sewers of London, and Japanese toilets.




Al-Ghazali on Intention, Sincerity and Truthfulness


Book Description

The 37th chapter of the Revival of Religious Sciences, this treatise focuses on the subject of intention--which is of crucial importance in Islam--posing questions such as How can someone ignorant of the meaning of intention verify his own intention? How can someone ignorant of the meaning of sincerity verify his own sincerity? and How can someone sincerely claim truthfulness if he has not verified its meaning? Renowned theologian-mystic Abu Hamid al-Ghazali addresses these questions by expounding the reality and levels of intention, sincerity, and truthfulness and the acts which affirm or mar them. Each of al-Ghazali's responses is based on the Qur'an, the example of the Prophet, and the sayings of numerous scholars and Sufis. As relevant today as it was in the 11th century, this discourse will be of interest to anyone concerned with ethics and moral philosophy.




SPIN


Book Description

From the concert stage to the dressing room, from the recording studio to the digital realm, SPIN surveys the modern musical landscape and the culture around it with authoritative reporting, provocative interviews, and a discerning critical ear. With dynamic photography, bold graphic design, and informed irreverence, the pages of SPIN pulsate with the energy of today's most innovative sounds. Whether covering what's new or what's next, SPIN is your monthly VIP pass to all that rocks.




Hop on Pop


Book Description

A sturdy board-book edition of Dr. Seuss’s Hop on Pop, now available in a larger size perfect for babies and toddlers! This abridged version of the classic Beginner Book Hop on Pop introduces the youngest readers to the wonderful world of Seussian wordplay. See RED and NED and TED and ED in BED. And giggle as PAT sits on a HAT and a CAT and a BAT . . . and almost on a cactus! (NO PAT NO, don’t sit on that.) A perfect gift for baby showers, birthdays, and happy occasions of all kinds, it is also a great way to show Pop some love on Father’s Day!