Isn't This Fun?


Book Description

Michael Foley, the author of bestselling The Age of Absurdity, wants to understand why he doesn't appear to be experiencing as much 'fun' as everyone else . . . And so, with characteristic wit and humour, Foley sets out to understand what fun really means, examining its heritage, its cultural significance and the various activities we associate with fun. He investigates pursuits such as dancing, sex, holidays, sport, gaming and comedy, and concludes that fun is not easy, simple and fixed, as many seem to believe, but elusive, complex and constantly changing. In fact, fun is a profoundly serious business. His findings will invigorate you with insights, quite possibly help you to understand why the post-post-modern is actually the pre-pre-modern and, at the very least, make you laugh at life. ‘This book is such a wondrous kaleidoscope of rage, based on such a deep reading of all the sources, that I shall be searching out his other works to read forthwith. The man is a marvel.’ Daily Mail




The Age of Absurdity


Book Description

PHILOSOPHY. A wry and accessible investigation into how the desirable states of wellbeing and satisfaction are constantly undermined by modern life. Michael Foley examines the elusive condition of happiness common to philosophy, spiritual teachings and contemporary psychology, then shows how these are becoming increasingly difficult to apply in a world of high expectations. The common challenges of earning a living, maintaining a relationship and ageing are becoming battlegrounds of existential angst and self-loathing in a culture that demands conspicuous consumption, high-octane partnerships and perpetual youth. Foley presents an entertaining strategy of not just accepting but embracing today's world - finding happiness in its absurdity.




Teasing Isn't Funny


Book Description

Jesse and the other animals at the bus stop make fun of Kelly's fluffy fur and plain clothes. The constant teasing makes Kelly the cat feel sad. Young readers watch Kelly struggle with the teasing and learn safe ways to make it stop. Sensitive illustrations of gender-neutral animal characters help all children relate to the issue of emotional bullying.




If It Isn't FUN It ISN't Fun


Book Description

Have you been frustrated with your speech therapy experience? Marci Melzer, M.Ed./SLP, is an intuitive speech-language pathologist with 30 years of experience helping people to develop the ability to use spoken language functionally. As a speech therapist, Marci found the health care system to be increasingly disempowering for both her and her clients. She finally left after being required by contract to go against her ethics for financial gains. Marci is now helping families by training the parents to facilitate language themselves faster, easier, and with a lot more fun than speech therapy. "My 8-year-old son has ASD. He still was not talking after 5 years of speech therapy and 2 years of ABA. Language facilitation helped us hear new words without prompting within 2 weeks. In one month, my son gave up his iPad communication system to talk. ~ Jennifer, Kentucky, USA Marci learned, after decades of speech therapy, that parents are the best language facilitators. Parents already know their children better than any therapist can. They know what their children are thinking and feeling due to the natural, intuitive connection between parents and their kids. Marci's language facilitation program equips and empowers parents to see the speech learning from the child's perspective. She teaches parents to self-analyze their own teaching methods as well as their child's school and therapies to discover the habits, patterns, and mindset issues that are keeping their children stuck in nonverbal communication and resistant to learning to talk. "The results of language facilitation are so much more than speech. They provide a world our kids begin to trust and as they gain confidence in themselves, their abilities, and in each relationship they open up to so much more. Speech has only been the tip of the iceberg for us. Watching our son (who will be 7 years old next week) engage with the world around him has been a gift beyond measure." ~ Janaiah, North Carolina USA Parents whose late-talking children have received diagnoses such as Autism, Apraxia, Global Developmental Delay, Genetic Disorders, Brain Malformation, and Auditory Processing Disorder are now conversing. Parents are seeing almost immediate results in children from 2-years-old to 13-years-old. Every child can benefit from parents using language facilitation. "It feels wonderful to connect with my 10-year-old son through play and hear new words, phrases, and sentences every day. He was so sad and anxious about all the prompting in speech therapy and it did not work anyway." ~ Mary Ann, Wisconsin, USA Hundreds of parents watch Marci's videos on Facebook and YouTube every day and comment on how the strategies are helping them overcome their child's resistance to speech faster than speech therapy. Now, parents can have a print-version of Marci's Language Facilitation program to use at their own pace. Every family who eliminates communication blockages and facilitates language naturally has heard their limited-verbal and nonverbal children use spontaneous spoken developmental language within weeks. Many children begin talking within days. These strategies are that good. "The concept of language facilitation gives the power back to the parents. Our children love and learn the most from us, not schools, hourly therapy sessions, etc. We naturally teach our children everything and Marci integrates this with her teaching. We need more Marci's in this world to keep up with this epidemic, our children deserve the best and Marci teaches parents how to not only reach their children but to teach their teams and supports how to do it as well. Once all are on board you will see results that will blow your mind!" ~ Tracy, Illinois USA




Fun


Book Description




Play Anything


Book Description

How filling life with play-whether soccer or lawn mowing, counting sheep or tossing Angry Birds -- forges a new path for creativity and joy in our impatient age Life is boring: filled with meetings and traffic, errands and emails. Nothing we'd ever call fun. But what if we've gotten fun wrong? In Play Anything, visionary game designer and philosopher Ian Bogost shows how we can overcome our daily anxiety; transforming the boring, ordinary world around us into one of endless, playful possibilities. The key to this playful mindset lies in discovering the secret truth of fun and games. Play Anything, reveals that games appeal to us not because they are fun, but because they set limitations. Soccer wouldn't be soccer if it wasn't composed of two teams of eleven players using only their feet, heads, and torsos to get a ball into a goal; Tetris wouldn't be Tetris without falling pieces in characteristic shapes. Such rules seem needless, arbitrary, and difficult. Yet it is the limitations that make games enjoyable, just like it's the hard things in life that give it meaning. Play is what happens when we accept these limitations, narrow our focus, and, consequently, have fun. Which is also how to live a good life. Manipulating a soccer ball into a goal is no different than treating ordinary circumstances- like grocery shopping, lawn mowing, and making PowerPoints-as sources for meaning and joy. We can "play anything" by filling our days with attention and discipline, devotion and love for the world as it really is, beyond our desires and fears. Ranging from Internet culture to moral philosophy, ancient poetry to modern consumerism, Bogost shows us how today's chaotic world can only be tamed-and enjoyed-when we first impose boundaries on ourselves.




Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book)


Book Description

Snappsy the alligator is having a normal day when a pesky narrator steps in to spice up the story. Is Snappsy reading a book ... or is he making CRAFTY plans? Is Snappsy on his way to the grocery store ... or is he PROWLING the forest for defenseless birds and fuzzy bunnies? Is Snappsy innocently shopping for a party ... or is he OBSESSED with snack foods that start with the letter P? What's the truth? Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) is an irreverent look at storytelling, friendship, and creative differences, perfect for fans of Mo Willems.




Save the Cat!


Book Description

This ultimate insider's guide reveals the secrets that none dare admit, told by a show biz veteran who's proven that you can sell your script if you can save the cat!




Mosquitoes Can't Bite Ninjas


Book Description

Mosquitoes can bite all kinds of people--ballerinas, chefs, babies, even you and me. But they can't bite . . . NINJAS! Mosquitoes might be quick, but ninjas are quicker. Mosquitoes might be sneaky, but ninjas are sneakier. And mosquitoes might be hungry, but ninjas are . . . hungrier! With tons of not-very-stealthy appeal, Jordan P. Novak's debut delivers buzzy, wacky, and hilarious read-to-me eBook.




Don't Laugh at Me


Book Description

Illustrated version of a song pointing out that in spite of our differences, we are all the same in God's eyes.