Riot Roundup The Best Books We Read In August

Riot Roundup The Best Books We Read In August We asked our contributors to share the best book they read last month. We’ve got fiction, nonfiction, YA, and much, much moreâ€"there are book recommendations for everyone here! Some are old, some are new, and some aren’t even out yet. Enjoy and tell us about the highlight of your reading month in the comments. Bobcat and Other Stories by Rebecca Lee Backlist is my middle name and this is one of the best books, backlist or front, that I’ve read in a long time. Lee’s collection of stories, even though it was left out of the marketing plan, leans heavily toward campus tales. Those are some of my faves, so the setting, layered in with difficult and curious characters, put this one way over the top. In one story a young girl chooses her best friend’s wife, in another a desperate young woman revisits the psychologist from her childhood, and a dinner party takes a turn from pretentious to emotionally devastating. If you love quirky literary fiction that happens to involve a lot of universities and professorly types, it’s all here. â€"Andi Miller Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah Given that Noah is a comedian who grew up in South Africa during apartheid, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Born a Crime? A harrowing tale about inequality and violence? Funny stories about a kid about being kid? With Born a Crime I got both. One minute I was grimacing, the next I was shaking with fear or anger, and the minute after that I was laughing out loud.  Noah has a gift for pointing out the horror and the absurdity of a situation while also making people laugh. Thanks book club for making me read this. â€"Tiffani Willis Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown I thought I was prepared for this book, that I had the historical and cultural background to be appalled, but not surprised by the details of the betrayal and atrocity that the doctrine of Manifest Destiny brought to the indigenous peoples of North America. I was not. Every page strikes the reader in the gut with the reality of the Indian genocide, but the strength of the narrative lies in the heroes’ response to each phase of the invasion. With every broken treaty, incursion by white soldiers, and act of violence condoned by the American government, warriors of all ages and tribes and temperaments and personalities, described in detailed brushstrokes with meaningful detail, push the boundaries of human imagination to devise new military strategies and battle a powerful enemy. Outgunned in almost every fight, always several steps behind in the arms race, the Indians resist the aggressive theft of their lands for three decades. A powerful, gut-churning, eye-opening piece of history. â€"Monica Friedman Christodora by Tim Murphy I love big, complicated books that take place across decades. Christodora did not disappoint. Kaleidoscoping through time from the 1980s to the 2020’s, it’s a messy, beautiful, heartbreaking story about the AIDS epidemic and AIDS/HIV activism, about art, addiction, and recovery, and ultimately, about how, where, and with whom we find belonging. It is also a brilliant exploration of how traumatic events reverberate through generations. The characters were sublime: flawed and messy, mistake-prone, with rich inner lives and complicated desires. I found myself at turns rooting for them, angry with them, heartbroken for them, deeply troubled by their actions, overjoyed for them, and devastated that I couldn’t have them over for dinner. These people sang on the page. I could not stop listening. (The audiobook was A+). â€"Laura Sackton A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi I finally got on the Star-Touched Queen bandwagon earlier in this month and immediately after downloaded the A Crown of Wishes audiobook. Roshani’s beautiful prose just makes me want to lay down on the floor. I adore how she combines rich world-building, dynamic characters, and truly incredible writing. When my friend told me he loved it even more than the TSTQ, I didn’t think that was possible but it is! It’s lush and whimsical and gorgeously rendered. Im swooning now, just thinking about it. â€"Sarah Nicolas Dark Matter by Blake Crouch I know. This book pubbed over a year ago. What have I been doing instead of already reading it? I’m sorry. I don’t read a lot of sci-fi. And I only picked this one up because I had accidentally fallen into a sci-fi time travel streak. And thank god I did, because I really enjoyed this novel, in which the protagonist wakes up into a life that is not his own, as the man who may or may not have discovered how to access the multiverse. Whatever has happened, it forces him to confront the roads not taken, in addition to the ways in which he has perhaps taken his family for granted. It gets a little out of control at the end there, but I suppose the possibility of infinite universes is also out of control. So I’ll allow it. â€"Steph Auteri Dark Money by Jane Mayer This book dives into the seedy underworld of political funding and exposes the machinations of a group of wealthy conservative mega-donors who are trying to push America’s politics to the far right. I hate reading about financeâ€"put a dollar sign in front of a number and my head starts to spin. But Mayer’s book is surprisingly engagingâ€"partly because of her skill as a writer and partly because the schemes she reveals are so shocking it seems like they belong in a political thriller. This is an absolute must-read if you want to understand the driving force behind the rise of the tea party and the conservative machine that is currently taking over America. â€"Kate Scott Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (HarperCollins Publishers, April 3, 2018) Dread Nation is so good that if you only read one book a year you should make this your 2018 read. And let’s be honest, this book is worth buying for the cover alone; that the contents are equally amazing makes this the book I’m going to be shouting about from now until forever! To say it’s the book I needed to read right now is an understatement. Ireland is a hell of a storyteller, and the story is not only entertaining but also important: Imagine if the focus after the Civil War was on fighting shamblers (zombies) and the U.S. responded by creating schools where black teens and Native Americans were sent for combat training because they were forced to fight off the shamblers. It’s as awesome as it sounds with a heroine who is kick-ass, smart, quick-tongued, and introspectiveâ€"she’s the hero I want fighting beside me. If you’re gonna rewrite history do it for a reason and say something important:  Ireland does. And speaking of rewriting history: in the battle of the st reaming companies, whoever is smart enough to buy the rights to Dread Nation to create a series will be Queen of all streaming services. â€"Jamie Canaves Eat Only When You’re Hungry by Lindsay Hunter When Greg goes out on a quest to find his missing adult son, GJ, he doesn’t seem confident that he’ll actually find him. He runs into strippers, his ex-wife, junkies, and his father’s new “friend” along with way. He concerns himself with his son’s drug and alcohol addictions while he personally deals with a type of food addiction. One of my favorite things about this novel is the foodie prose. People’s bodies seem to be as consumable and temporary as the food they eat, store, and indulge in. â€"Rachel Wagner Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia I have described reading this book (several times now) as feeling like a mixture between having a crush and the night before a new Harry Potter book comes out. And I stand by that description. Eliza is the anonymous creator of the Internet’s most popular web comic. She’s never had friends IRL, until her comic’s biggest fanfiction writer moves to her school. As they become friends and more, Eliza has to navigate family struggles, an anxiety disorder, and the very big secret she’s keeping. Peppered with excerpts of her comic and the accompanying story, this book kept me up well into the night. It is romantic, honest, and beautifully written. I’m sure I’ll be rereading it before too long. â€"Alison Doherty The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee I loved everything about this YA book! Genie Lo is obsessed with getting into a great college, but when her Bay Area town gets besieged by monsters straight out of Chinese folklore she is surprised to find out that she is one of two people who can do anything about it. The other person is the Monkey King himself, who comes to help her in the guise of Quentin Sun, a new transfer student. Witty dialogue, plenty of action, and the seamless incorporation of Chinese folklore makes this a stand out story. I can’t wait for book two! â€"Karina Glaser The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry This book could not have been more *for me* if it tried. A feisty, brilliant widow teams up with a country minister to investigate the local folk tale of a serpent in Victorian England. Along the way, there’s a cardiologist, an invalid, a social reformer, and feasts, sex, and wonderful descriptions of the natural world! It was a book that managed to be thoughtful and beautiful but was also light and an absolute joy to read. I blazed through it in a few days and have been pushing it onto anyone who will listen. â€"Ashley Bowen Exit West by Mohsin Hamid Exit West is short, but it contains so much. It’s a love story and a novel about migration in violent and politically unsettling times. It also contains a dash of fabulism, so that people can walk through doors into new locations around the globe. But these people are not traveling for pleasure; they are fleeing violence and seeking any place that might offer them a better life, or at least allow them to stay alive. The main characters Nadia and Saeed are sharply-drawn, vibrant people whose destinies we come to care about. Hamid’s prose is wonderful: it’s straightforward, simple, brief, and also somehow devastating. But mostly this is a book that speaks to our times, telling stories of the uncertainty and struggle that millions of people forced into migration around the world are facing right now. â€"Rebecca Hussey Final Girls by Riley Sager Our very own Liberty Hardy described this book on Twitter as “Gone Girl meets American Horror Story,” and there was no way in hell I was going to pass up a book with a description like that. And holy bananapants, did this book live up to my expectations. The story revolves around three women who have been dubbed “The Final Girls” by the media, playing upon the horror convention of the “final girl,” the supposedly virtuous woman who is the last person left alive in a slasher movie. Quincy, the most recent Final Girl, just wants to move on with her life, but that becomes difficult to do when Lisa, the first Final Girl, is found dead in her apartment and Sam, the mysterious second Final Girl, shows up unexpectedly on Quincy’s doorstep. The tone of this book is absolutely spot on more Dark Places than Gone Girl but it’s creepy as hell and it evokes the best qualities of 80’s slasher movies. I stayed up way past my bedtime trying to finish this book.   â€"Katie McLain The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill (Algonquin Young Readers) It’s no surprise that this won a Newbery Medal. I originally picked this up for my local indie’s monthly book group. We generally stick to adult fiction, so a middle grade book about a girl overflowing with magic was a true departure for us. But the response at our book group’s meeting was very telling. This is a lovely story that approaches complicated and sometimes dark themes. I felt there was a very strong feminist message that informed the book and the characters. This is the type of story that reminds you of the amazing work that is currently happening in the middle grade and YA world. â€"Elizabeth Allen Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between by Jennifer Smith (Poppy) Love is complicated. I’m learning that this year. High school sweethearts travel through their town, deciding if they will stay together and maintain long-distance connections through college, or end their relationship. Clare wants to break up, while Aidan wants to stay together. Tensions run high, especially when Clare finds out that Aidan lied an important part of college. Yet they try and grow, as both navigate a late night party and their changing minds. â€"Priya Sridhar The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao by Martha Batalha (October 10, OneWorld Publications) Euridice is a talented girl with big ideas for herself, but when her sister, Guida, elopes and leaves the family staggering at their loss, Euridice sets aside any of her own ambitions and becomes the model daughter, wife, and mother. But you can’t squash that spirit inside of Euridice, and she tries to do both be the model wife and mother, and also be a writer, a cook, a seamstress, an entrepreneur, anything to settle that restlessness inside. This book is a series of Euridice’s attempts at the life she wantsâ€"the life we all know she needsâ€"despite challenges from nosy neighbors, a highly traditional (if confused) husband, and the surprise return of her sister. I think what spoke to me so much about Euridice’s story is the way we try to model ourselves into what others want us to beâ€"quiet and suitable and fine, just fine, always fineâ€"but the way also that Euridice knows that’s all a load of bull. Her strength and scrappiness (this lady is the definition of scrappy) al ways winsâ€"it always has to. Her journey is such a satisfying one to watch. While the ending of the book is, for me, a bit rushed, the arc of this novel, the writing, the characters, are a joy to read. â€"Dana Staves Like Water by Rebecca Podos (October 17, Balzar Bray) Vannis small New Mexico town, La Trampa, is the kind of place you either flee upon graduation or you find yourself stuck in for life. As much as shes intended to flee, though, Vanni is sticking around after graduation to help take care of her sick father, as well as the family Mexican restaurant. Thats when she meets Leigh, a new girl in town. To be fair, Vanni doesnt meet Leigh. She first meets Leighs brother, and is put off by the attitude and brashness of Leigh. But soon, Vanni cannot get enough of Leigh, and the two of them fall for one another. Or more, Vanni, who is used to enjoying physical fun with many of the local boys, finds herself falling for Leigh on a physical and emotional level, and the story itself explores what it is that Vanni really wants both in the place shes at and the places she hopes to be…physical, emotional, and through relationships. This is a fabulous book and a quiet one about sexual identity, the fluidity therein, and it features a character who identifies as gender queer (that would be Leigh, who, throughout we refer to as she and female, but learn the preferred gender identity later onâ€"that is part of Vannis coming to understand her own sexuality). Both of the characters here are sharp, a little prickly, and yet fully realized and realistic. Bonus points to this one for Vanni having one of the most awesome/ridiculous summer jobs possible as a performing mermaid at a local water park. â€"Kelly Jensen Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai This is a sweet and remarkably funny middle novel about a girl whose parents make her accompany her grandmother to Vietnam on summer break. Mai doesnt care about her Vietnamese heritage or discovering her roots but when a detective the family hired uncovers evidence about her long lost grandfather who didnt make it out after the War, Mai had to go. Almost against her will, Mai learns to appreciate and love her culture. â€"Kristen McQuinn Love Will Always Remember  by Tracey Livesay (Avon Impulse) Everyone is skeptical of an amnesia story, and I mean everyone: author Tracey Livesay even decided to write one as a way to challenge herself to do something new. As a result, we have the story of Leighton Clarke, a high-powered DC-lobbyist who gets injured, falls into a coma, and wakes up thinking she’s engaged to Jonathan Moran, who’s the brother of her actual fiancé. I know it sounds melodramaticâ€"and it is a little melodramatic, obviouslyâ€"but its also fun and has all of the pieces that make this kind of a story engaging: elements of the past that Leighton can’t remember and the reader doesn’t know, Jonathan’s dilemma over whether to tell her the truth, and the “how did I get here” life examination that only amnesia can force upon a person. Love Will Always Remember is kind of like the romance novel version of What Alice Forgot meets A Christmas Carol, which is a compliment of the highest order. â€"Trisha Brown Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking: A Memoir of Food and Longing  by Anya Von Bremzen (Random House Audio, 2013) If you’re looking for a cheerful book that’s just straight-up delicious food, this isn’t it. (Hint: Soviet.) This book is more history disguised as a food memoir, although there’s plenty of cooking and eating and remembering-of-food. Each chapter covers a decade and a dish, beginning in 1910, and Von Bremzen beautifully weaves personal family stories with larger political movements. I listened to the audiobook, mostly while puttering in my own kitchen, sometimes chuckling aloud, sometimes weeping. Especially in the later chapters, this book gave me a new awareness of the abundance of food choices in the United States. Von Bremzen also helped me connect the tidbits of information I half-remembered or misremembered about the Soviet Unionâ€"she is only a few years older than I am, so especially as we entered the 1980s, the stories had an immediacy and familiarity. I had started listening just before our last presidential election, but put it aside after the first chapter. It was too much. But then I heard James Comey’s Testimony in July and I thought it might be a good idea to give it another whirl. I frankly wish every member of Congress would read this, and maybe some of those folks who think Putin is “a good guy.” â€"Nicole Mulhausen My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Kabi Nagata (Seven Seas) This beautifully illustrated manga by Kabi Nagata follows the author as she struggles to interact with the world at large, understand her own sexuality, and deal with her mental illness. While My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness has been lauded for its frank exploration of sexuality, it is truly Nagata’s experience with mental illness that unites the story.  From page one, she exposes her irrational thinking, constant struggle, and physical symptoms, allowing the reader to see and sympathize.  It’s a revolutionary manga, candidly chronicling human experiences that so many other writers, publishers, and authorities would rather we all politely ignore. â€"Cindy Butor North to You by Tif Marcelo Filipino protagonists tend to be few and far between in my reading experience, so it’s always lovely when I can pick up a novel that both features characters like me and that ends up becoming one of my favourite books of the year. In Marcelo’s debut, Camille Marinoâ€"food truck owner and beleaguered caretaker for her little sisterâ€"finds that a childhood love might be the man of her dreams. But Drew Bautista’s only going to be in town for a few weeks before military deployment, and renovations of his family’s Filipino restaurant aren’t just taking up his time, but they might also threaten the growing sparks between Drew and Camille. It’s hard not to feel like I’m not doing justice to this book, considering how many of my favourite romantic tropes and character arcs it pulled together into a delightful little package. And oh, the food! Whether you’ve had Filipino food or not before reading North to You, Marcelo leaves you with an intense craving, as well as a handy re cipe for chicken afritada (a personal favourite of mine) to tide you over while waiting for the next book in the series. â€"Angel Cruz Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Won’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain (Penguin) I wasn’t entirely convinced by this book, which in some places seems like wish fulfilment for introverts, and in other places would benefit from structural analysis rather than attributing so many outcomes to personality alone. But as a dyed-in-the-wool introvert with a horror of phone calls, large groups, and small talk, much of this book resonated with me. Seeing how much of Western social organization is structured to favor extroverts, even though introverts make up over a third of the population, is maddening. â€"Christine Ro   Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor (Catapult, October 3) If I were to tell you that this novel begins with the disappearance of a teenage girl in a small English town, you may think you know what to expect. Let me assure you that this book will defy those expectations. Instead of following an investigation, Reservoir 13 follows the life of the town for the years after the tragedy. People are born, and people die. Relationships begin and end. Students go to university and return home afterâ€"or not. Yes, the missing girl is something people think about, but it’s just one of many events. The novel was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and I’d be happy to see it win. â€"Teresa Preston Solo  by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess Blade Morrison is sick of living in the shadow of his rockstar dad, who has a tendency to ruin the good things in Blades life lately. At just the right (or wrong?) time, a family secret comes out, and Blade travels across the world on a mission to find his roots. I nearly missed my exit while I listened to this gorgeous book, my first novel in verse, and oh me oh my, am I sold on this form. â€"Ashley Holstrom Strange Beauty: A Portrait of my Son by Eliza Factor (Parallax Press) This book was a heartrending memoir about Factor’s experience in raising a son with multiple disabilities, including autism. Her frustration, isolation, struggles, and love were woven through, and as a parent of a child with some delays, I really appreciated her candor and overarching drive to make a difference.   â€"Jaime Herndon The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss A fun romp through classic horror fiction, where monstrous daughters team up to solve mysteries (with the occasional help from Sherlock Holmes). The central cast includes: Mary Jekyll, Diana Hyde, Justine Frankenstein, Catherine Moreau, and Beatrice Rappaccini. I loved the dynamics between women, the mix of humor as the characters interrupt the narrative to add their two cents, and the individuality of each character’s feminism. And of course all set in Victorian era London, and Goss sets the ambiance for that time perfectly. Here’s hoping this will turn into a series! â€"Margaret Kingsbury The Tea Dragon Society by Kate O’Neill (Oni Press, Oct. 31) A new book from the author of Princess Princess Ever After! Greta is a young girl who happens upon the Tea Dragon Society, a very small group practicing the dying art of raising tea dragons toâ€"you guessed itâ€"make tea. That’s right. This book has the world’s most adorable teeny dragons, who grow leaves on their horns that are used in making tea. Even just thinking about their little leafy horns while writing this is making me want to faint from the cuteness! The illustrations are AMAZING, and it has a wonderfully diverse cast of characters. While it’s listed as a middle grade graphic novel, it is 1000% percent for everyone. I hope there are more books!   â€"Liberty Hardy The Terracotta Bride by Zen Cho A truly fascinating vision of hell that combines Christian and Chinese mythology in a completely unique way. Siew Tsin’s afterlife is comfortable, if mediocre: she’s the neglected (and unwilling) wife of a wealthy man in the tenth circle of hell, where rich nobles pay off bureaucratic demons to leave them alone, and do everything they can to avoid rebirth. But Siew’s existence is turned topsy-turvy when her hubby brings home a wife made from terracotta just for him. The world building in this novella is amazing, and there’s a decidedly feminist strain to the story. I felt like the ending was anticlimactic and a bit of a letdown, but that may be because I didn’t want the story to end. I really hope Cho writes a full novel set in this universe. â€"Tasha Brandstatter Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham I’ve had this in my Audible library for what seems like forever, and I was on a ferry, flicking through my phone and looking for something to take my mind off the imminent possibility of seasickness when I found it and hit play. I loved it. Lauren Graham reads her memoir so well, with just the right amount of dramatisation, and now I remember why I want to be best friends with her, even if she does never reply to my tweets. It was also a great book for me to be listening to while I was at a writing conference, because she talks encouragingly about pursuing your creative dream even when you’re not sure if it’s ever going to happen for you. Lauren Graham is warm and witty, and I’m just the right amount of old enough to side with her when she gets old and sensible and talks beautifully about disconnecting from our phones. Highly recommended. â€"Claire Handscombe This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins I kept this book on my kindle for a while before I read it. The world is a tough place right now, was I ready for a book of essays to challenge me? It turns out this was some of the best medicine I could have asked for. Jerkins writes with a rare willingness to consider herself and the world around her, and it made me look at parts of myself and parts of the world I hadn’t considered before. These essays, critical and deeply personal, are about what it means to be a black woman in the world right now. I am a white woman and this book made me more aware of that, more willing to consider my own privilege, and more willing to be critical of myself than anything I have ever read before, and that is about as high of praise as I can give. â€"Jessica Woodbury Under Fire by Scarlett Cole Romantic suspense and I have a complicated relationship, so I was surprised when this first-in-a-series new release by an author I’ve never read before hit all the right buttons for me. The book follows Dr. Louisa “Lou” North whose latest drug research, which can regrettably be used as a chemical weapon, is stolen from her lab. When she realizes her life is in danger, Lou has no choice but to call on Sixten “Six” Rapp to help retrieve the lost drug and play security detail for her. This book proved to be the perfect balance of internal/external conflict, romance, and easily digestible action scenes. I was on edge for each and every word. Under Fire is easily the best romantic suspense that I’ve read all year. â€"Erin McCoy Wedding Toasts I’ll Never Give by Ada Calhoun I’ve never been married, but when I saw Wedding Toasts I’ll Never Give on the new books shelf at my library, it was a title I just had to pick up. The slim book is an expansion of a Modern Love column of the same name that Ada Calhoun wrote in 2015, about the things she wishes she could say to newlyweds on their wedding day. The book argues that a wedding isn’t the end of a love story, it’s the first chapter in a much longer book about what it means to couple yourself with someone else for life. Calhoun is funny and open and frank when writing about her marriage, and the things it has taught her about humility, acceptance, grace, and boredom living in the conjoined orbit of a person who you can love unequivocally and hate deeply within the same day. â€"Kim Ukura

Enlightenment Ideals As Catalysts Of The French Revolution

Aamna Malik Ms. Maize CHY4U1 November 18, 2014 Enlightenment Ideals as Catalysts of the French Revolution â€Å"Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains† (Rousseau 1). These words of the 18th Century philosophe Jean Jacques Rousseau perfectly describe the sweeping turmoil in Pre-revolution France. Freedom as pertaining to underlying societal structures such as social codes, political establishments, and religious institutions was believed by Enlightenment thinkers to be a natural right of man whilst it was seized from the citizens of France by the absolutist monarchy of King Louis XIV. As an absolute ruler, King Louis XIV held all power and was free to exercise it in all aspects of society, be it religion, economy, or law, without fear of resistance or revolt from the public. That is, until the 18th century, when Enlightenment ideals prevailed and the citizens of France were persuaded by various strong leaders and their ideas of reform to overthrow the current societal institutions. This movement is commonly known as the French Revolution. The rampant progression of the Fre nch Revolution was spread through Enlightenment ideals in the Third Estate, the largest demographic of absolute France. Consequently, the Enlightenment ideals of social, political, and religious freedom as manifested in the works of Jean Jacques Rousseau, Francois-Marie Arouet Voltaire, and the Baron de Montesquieu served as catalysts for the French Revolution. Rulers of absolute regimes cameShow MoreRelatedThe French Revolution And The Enlightenment1601 Words   |  7 PagesThe Enlightenment was an extensive intellectual, philosophical, and cultural movement that spread throughout Europe, predominantly England, France and Germany during the 18th century. 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Faust not only expresses the moral contradictions and spiritual yearnings of a man in search of fulfillment, but also portrays the broader mindset of a society that was groping for meaning in a world where reason no longer sufficed as a catalyst for human cultural life. The period of German Romanticism in which GoetheRead MoreRacism - A History : The Color Of Money1063 Words   |  5 Pagesthe slave trade, the concept of racism is rooted in the enslavement and exploitation of Africans for labor and capital gain. The documentary describes how the British’s development of the transatlantic slave trade for colonial America served as the catalyst for racism, not the reverse. As Professor James Walvin, Professor of History Emeritus at the University of York explained in the documentary, â€Å"the British don t become slave traders and slavers because they are racist; they became racist because

Jamming Essay - 969 Words

STUDENT DETAILS ________________________________________ ACAP Student ID: 217097 Name: Miguel Martinez Course: Diploma of Counselling ASSESSMENT DETAILS ________________________________________ Unit/Module: Facilitate the counselling process (CHC8D31V) Educator: Karen Mitchell Assessment Name: Assignment 1- week 4 Assessment Number: 1 Term amp; Year: Term 2 2013 Word Count: 572 (answers only) DECLARATION I declare that this assessment is my own work, based on my own personal research/study . I also declare that this assessment, nor parts of it, has not been previously submitted for any other unit/module or course, and that I have not copied in part or whole or otherwise plagiarised the work of another student and/or†¦show more content†¦3. Identify three important areas to address with clients in the initial counselling session. The three important areas to go over with a new client in the initial session is, asking them if they have seen a counsellor before, what their expectations are from this process and highlighting to them confidentiality and how they would feel if you had to break confidentiality in cases of abuse etc. Rapport building is also extremely important from the initial session. 4. Identify and explain two basic micro-skills of counselling and their purpose in facilitating client understanding Questioning involves either open or closed questions; it is important in gathering information and may be used throughout the entire counselling process. Questioning helps to guide conversation and enhances a client’s story or issue. Reflecting is another important micro skill; it authenticates the client’s emotions about their issue. It involves highlighting a client’s feelings about an issue they are talking about; it adds the emotional dimension to the process. 5. Identify and briefly describe two client disclosures that would require immediate action on the counsellor’s part and what action you would take for each. The client disclosures that would force a counsellor to break confidentiality are, if a client was suicidal, we must look for clues that mayShow MoreRelated Cultural Activism and Culture Jamming Essay5153 Words   |  21 PagesCultural Activism and Culture Jamming Cultural activism is not quite the same as traditional political activism. Within the sphere of traditional activism, there are issues like war, nuclear power, abortion and standard organizational principals and consciousness-raising strategies. Cultural activism (and more specifically culture jamming), in many ways goes beyond traditional strategies that have typified political action concentrating on issues like distribution and the public nature of artRead MoreIsolation Mechanism For Jamming Attack1120 Words   |  5 PagesIsolation Mechanism for Jamming Attack in MANET 1. Introduction Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET) attached in a dynamic manner and it is an assembly of wireless mobile nodes. Without any fixed infrastructure nodes making a temporary network where all nodes are arbitrarily free to move. In the network nodes are act as routers, which take part in finding and maintenance of routes to other nodes [1]. Wireless connection in MANET is highly misplay and due to mobility of nodes it goes downRead MoreThe First Airborne Jamming Test877 Words   |  4 Pagesradar prompted experiments to find whether or not ITS transmission could be denied or defeated. The first airborne jamming test took place in London and involved a continuous wave transmitter. Following this test, anti-jamming systems were attached to the direction finding systems which then evolved into the Chain Home radar system along the eastern coast of the U.K. These anti-jamming systems were the first examples of electronic counter counter-measures which is now a sub-category of electronic warfareRe ad MoreAdbusters Media Foundation: An Active Space for Participation2476 Words   |  10 PagesAdbusters. Adbusters also challenges mainstream messages through a practice called culture jamming. By taking popular ads from the media Adbusters challenges corporations and mainstream media by interrupting the consumer experience by revealing the underlying message and meaning behind the ad. This essay will argue that through Adbusters’ communicative practices, like the use of technology, print media, culture jamming and campaigns, the media activist group is making a significant impact in moving peopleRead MoreWriting A Term Paper Usually Involves Jamming A Semester1794 Words   |  8 Pages Writing a term paper usually involves jamming a semester s worth of research into one week, writing 15 pages in a night and emerging from a computer lab with bloodshot eyes and a stack of empty coffee cups. But for a few students, the task is hardly this draining. All it takes is a click of the mouse. Downloading papers from the Internet, combined with the upsurge of other incidents of cheating, has been a growing concern for the future of academic integrity in higher education. It s easyRead MorePacket Hiding Methods For Avoiding Attacks1275 Words   |  6 Pagescomputational and communication overhead. Keywords: Selective Jamming, Denial-of-Service, Wireless Networks, Packet Classification. 1. Introduction In the simplest form of jamming, the adversary corrupts transmitted messages by causing electromagnetic interference in the network’s operational frequencies, and in proximity to the targeted receivers]. For an adversary agnostic to the implementation details of the network, a typical jamming strategy is the continuous emission of high-power interferenceRead MoreAdvancements And Uses Of Wireless Sensor Networks996 Words   |  4 PagesIt is encountered in physical, link and network layer. It could be either jamming or tampering in physical layer. Among this, the most common DoS attack is jamming, which is defined as the function of intentionally directing electromagnetic energy towards a communication system which disrupts or prevent signal transmission. The jammers are resource constrained in WSN and it can be placed randomly in the network [16]. Jamming attack can be evaluated by the metrics such as Network Capacity, ReceivedRead MoreEvaluation Of A Seminar Report Essay1063 Words   |  5 Pagesadvances so that the ECM systems have an easier job. Offensive ECM often takes the form of jamming. Defensive ECM includes using blip enhancement and jamming of missile terminal homers. ACTIVE ECM: It is a method which involves degradation of effectiveness of enemy equipment by transmitting electromagnetic radiation. Which can be achieved by noise or deceptive jamming. NOISE JAMMING: The main function of noise jamming is to create an interference to the enemy’s electronic system such that the actual signalRead MoreImportance Of Secure Information Transmission In Mobile Adhoc Network852 Words   |  4 PagesSecure and Authenticate Jamming Attack Proof Secure Information Transmission in Mobile Adhoc Network Harsha Jain Pranita Jain Department of Computer Science Engineering Department of Computer Science Engineering SATI College SATI College Civil Lines, Vidisha, M.P., India Civil Lines, Vidisha, M.P., India harshajain98@gmail.com pranita.jain@gmail.com Abstract— An Ad-hoc mobile network is an assembly of wireless transportable nodes devotedly creating a short-lived network lacking the use ofRead MoreA Summary For Detecting Malicious Variable Routing706 Words   |  3 Pagespaper. Alejandro Proano and Loukas Lazos proposed a paper titled, â€Å"Packet-Hiding Methods for Preventing Selective Jamming Attacks† where the problem of jamming under an internal threat model is discussed. The adversary will be aware about the network secrets and the implementation details of network protocols at any layer in the network is considered. For launching selective jamming attacks in network ,which it targets on â€Å"high importance† messages the adversary exploit the internal knowledge

Xcom100 Conflict Management Summary Free Essays

Xcom/100 Introduction to communication Types of conflict There are several types of conflict. Within our reading it discussed eight different types of conflict. Interpersonal conflict is one type of conflict which is a struggle that happens when two people cannot agree upon a way to meet their needs. We will write a custom essay sample on Xcom100 Conflict Management Summary or any similar topic only for you Order Now Construtive conflict is when there is cooperation regarding the issues and helps build tools to fix the problems at hand. Destructive conflict is the lack of cooperation in dealing with the issues and breaks up relationships forever. Pseudo conflict is just a misunderstanding a meaning of something portrayed from the opposing party involved. Simple conflict is a basic difference in ideas, definitions, perceptions, or goals. Ego conflict is a personal issue and then the parties involved start attacking the others self esteem. Serial arguments are the same arguments that occur over and over again. Irresolvable conflict is when one or both of the parties involved think that the issue is impossible to resolve. Every conflict has some style of management which are non-confrontational, confrontational, or cooperative. Non-confrontational style is basically when one person completely backs off avoiding the conflict all together and giving into the other party involved. Confrontational style is a win lose scenario in which one party wants control and to essentially win the argument at the expense of the other. Cooperative style is viewed as both parties want to reach an agreement and come to a solution to the problem at hand. An effective conflict should be managed and problem solving tools should be used so both parties end up in a win, win outcome. There are certain skills that help out in conflict management. Managing emotions and being able to make logical decisions about the conflict is important. Select a acceptable time and place to discuss the issue, plan your message, manage your nonverbal message, refrain from using profanity and lashing out, and last remember to use self talk. Managing your emotions is often a struggle, but escalating the situation will never help resolve a conflict. By managing your information such as clearly describing the issue, owning your faults, listening and understanding what others say and do are also important skills. Identify what your goals are as well as your partners and see where they overlap. Both of you obviously want to obtain these goals so finding a way so both parties can achieve their goals is important. Managing the problem is an important skill to have. This enables you to be able to define and then solve the problem, think of all possible outcomes or solutions, and discuss the pros and cons of the problem at hand. My style of management is without a doubt non-confrontational. When I was reading our material this week I actually stopped reading and told my girlfriend to read this because it was definitely me. A couple of the five types of responses I can relate with. I like to distract with jokes conflict and face the issues. I know that the problem will continue to resurface if not dealt with, but I continue to try and postpone it. Another style is called computing which I also do as I avoid emotional involvement even under pressure. I respond to emotional situations with words and phrases rather than empathy to a situation. I don’t really give in when faced with conflict although I don’t want to deal with it. I have gotten much better at managing conflict and my emotions throughout the last five or ten years because I have got help concerning these issues among others. How to cite Xcom100 Conflict Management Summary, Essay examples

Making Fun Of Optimism, Religion And Greed Essays -

Making Fun Of Optimism, Religion And Greed Voltaire who was a French writer, philosopher and one of the leaders of the Enlightenment is known as one of the greatest satirist ever. Voltaire wrote about important genres: tragedy, history, philosophy and fiction just as his English contemporary Samuel Johnson. American heritage dictionary defines satire as, An artistic work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision, or wit. Irony or caustic wit used to expose or attack human folly. The satirist adopts a critical attitude and usually presents his material with wit and humor. Voltaire uses many literary writing tools to share his views. Voltaire reasons for using satire is because he believes it is entertaining which many at time also agreed with him. During this time, many great authors wrote about things that they believed to be interesting for others to read. Voltaire was a big believer in writing about things that really happen to others. Some of the tools he uses are irony, symbolism and satire. The poi nt I will be talking about is satire. Voltaire choices satire because this way he can make a joke out of serious matters such as death, rape, and murder. Through his satire, Voltaire sometimes expressed outrage, and other times he was playful. This is the literary term he uses the most of the time. Voltaire targets of satire are many and varied. Three topics Voltaire uses satire for are philosophical optimism, religion and greed. I will be focusing my paper on these three ideas. Voltaire was a serious man but felt it was important to entertain others by using humor as long as he thought it was funny. Voltaires main purpose in writing Candide was to demolish the theory of Optimism, and that is why is used exaggeration. To oppose optimism Voltaire used a variety of forms. The one that proved to be most effective was satire. Gottfried and Leibnitz, the German philosopher, provides Voltaires most specific target in Candide, with the complexities of his version of optimism reduced for satiric purposes to be facile formula. (World Masterpieces 316) Leibnitz thought that everything had a cause and an effect. He believed that for everything that happened there was something else that would follow due to the previous. Through Voltaires experiences, he came to realize that not everything was for the best. In the story, irrational ideas are taught to the main character, Candide about optimistic versus the reality of the rest of the world. Out of every unfortunate situation in the story, his philosopher-teacher advised Candide that everything in the world happens for a reason. Private misfor tunes contribute to the general good, so the more private misfortunes there are, he more we find that all is well. (Voltaire 31) Pangloss was a devoted friend and an optimist who claims that there is no effect without a cause, and that everything has a purpose. Pangloss was not meant to be a direct attack on Leibnitz. Although Voltaire wanted people to realize how distorted Leibnitz idea was. During the story, an earthquake strikes killing many. In reality, this is a horrific predicament to be involved in. In Pangloss world, It is impossible for things not to be where they are, because everything is for the best.(Voltaire 35) Pangloss believed that the earthquake was necessary in the course of nature, so there was definitely a reason why it happened. Pangloss tries to defend his theories by determining the positive from the negative situation. As Candide grew up and encountered many unfortunate things Pangloss would turn the situation around, bring out the good in it. Candide learns that optimism is The passion for maintaining that all is that all is right when all goes wrong. (Voltaire 86) Every time Candide experienced some terrible danger and or suffering, he wondered if Doctor Pangloss might begin to doubt his own philosophy. Pangloss ultimately changed Candides optimistic philosophy. Pangloss preached that wherever one was it was the best possible place to be. Candide had questioned Pangloss on a number of occasions because he felt that there must be a better place to be when there is so much evil where he was. Throughout his life, Candide was affected

Mrsa Essays

Mrsa Essays Mrsa Essay Mrsa Essay MRSA: An evolving â€Å"super-bug† epidemic MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and is a bacterial infection that is highly resistant to some antibiotics. In short, antibiotics have been used since the 40s to stop the growth of bacteria. However, the more antibiotics are used, the quicker the bacteria become resistant to it while each year more types of bacteria adapt and become resistant to antibiotics. With MRSA being so resistant to many of the antibiotics, classifying it as a â€Å"super-bug†, it makes treatment of skin infections and invasive internal infections much more complicated. This leads to many yearly deaths. In fact, MRSA statistics show that more people die each year from MRSA infections than the AIDS virus. Etiology: MRSA is a strain of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which is also known as the staph infection. It is also medically known as S. aureus and is a common type of bacteria that normally live on the skin and sometimes in the nasal passages of healthy people. This S. aureus strain does not respond to some of the antibiotics used to treat staph infections. The bacteria can cause infection when they enter the body through a cut, sore, catheter, or breathing tube or simply when it comes into contact with the skin. The infection can be as minor as a cut or pimple or it can be more serious when it involves the heart or lungs. However, serious staph infections are more common in people with weak immune systems such as the elderly or those who are already sick and hospitalized. MRSA infections are grouped into two types based on their causative factors. In Healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) infections, people who are or have recently been in a hospital or health-care facility are affected. A large percentage of hospital-acquired staph infections are related to MRSA bacteria. On the other hand, Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections occur in people who have not recently been in the hospital within the past year. This type of infection has occurred among athletes who share equipment or personal items and children in daycare facilities. Members of the military and those who get tattoos are also at risk. A friend of mine acquired MRSA from a hot tub at a hotel resort while on vacation. This is also why it is important to cover toilet seats while using a public restroom or clean the gym equipment before and after you use it. Page 2 Epidemiology: MRSA has become a growing concern. Research indicates that this violent bacteria is evolving rapidly and cases even outside healthcare facilities are increasing. As many as 1. 2 million U. S. hospital patients are infected with MRSA each year, which is almost 10 times more than previously estimated. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the year 2005, MRSA was responsible for an estimated 94,000 invasive life-threatening infections and close to 19,000 deaths. In the US alone, there were an estimated12 million doctor or hospital visits for skin and soft tissue infections suspected to be caused by staph aureus in the year 2003. The most recent statistics show that 20% of bloodstream infections in hospitals are now caused by MRSA. The common cause for this growing disease is that hospital staff who do not follow proper sanitary procedures transfer the bacteria from patient to patient. Some hospitals screen for MRSA and isolate such patients, but most US hospitals do not yet do this. On the other hand, statistics show that as hospital related MRSA is declining to due to improved precautions, community related MRSA is on the rise. Until recently, hospitals were the most likely place that people would get MRSA, but now the biggest MRSA health risk is related to community acquired MRSA. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, CA-MRSA has become the most frequent cause of skin and soft tissue infections in the United States. The CDC reports that in 2007, 14% of people with MRSA infections had CA-MRSA. Pathogenesis: The most common symptoms of MRSA start with a red, swollen, and painful area on the skin. It is advised to recognize these signs and consult a doctor as soon as these symptoms arise. You should keep an eye on minor skin problems such as pimples, insect bites, cuts and scrapes (especially in children) and see a doctor if the wounds become infected. Other symptoms and signs that the infection is developing include drainage of pus or other fluids from the site, fever, skin abscesses, and warmth around the infected area. Symptoms of more serious MRSA cases that indicate the infection has spread include chest pain, chills, cough, fatigue, general ill feeling (malaise), headache, muscle aches, rash, and shortness of breath. The risk factors for the two different strains of MRSA differ. In the healthcare associated MRSA, the risk is obviously increased for elderly patients and those who are sick with weakened immune systems. The risk of MRSA is also higher among patients who have an invasive medical device inserted such as IVs and catheters. These provide a pathway for MRSA to get into the body. MRSA is also more prevalent in nursing homes. Carriers of MRSA have the ability to Page 3 spread it even if theyre not sick or show symptoms of infection. In terms of community acquired MRSA, those at higher risk include people who participate in contact sports since it spreads easily through cuts and abrasions and skin-to-skin contact. Also, are those living in crowded or unsanitary conditions. Outbreaks of MRSA have occurred in military training camps, child care centers, and jails. It is also said that homosexual men are at higher risk of developing MRSA infections. Diagnostic tools and techniques: After a doctor suspects MRSA, they will send a sample of tissue or a culture from the wound area and/or nasal secretion to a lab. The sample is placed in a dish of nutrients that encourage bacterial growth. It takes about 48 hours for the bacteria to grow in order to screen the results. However, newer tests still in research stages, can detect staph DNA in a matter of hours are now becoming more widely available. These new methods test for a gene that confers resistance to the antibiotics Methicillin, Oxacillin, Nafcillin, and Dicloxacillin and other similar antibiotics. Molecular tests for MRSA screening have the potential to detect nasal or wound carriage within hours instead of days required by culture, which then educes the risk of MRSA related complications. If either a culture or a molecular test is positive for MRSA, then the person is diagnosed with MRSA at the site that was tested. There are several conditions that can mimic MRSA before the area is tested for the bacteria. Some of the symptoms associated with MRSA are also associated with a yeast infection, diaper rash, acne, dermatitis, an ingrown hai r, and bed sores. Treatment: As stated by the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: First-line treatment for mild abscesses is incision and drainage. Doctors will drain the affected hair and/or cut out the skin area that is affected by MRSA. This prevents growth and spread. Fortunately, most MRSA still can also still be treated by certain antibiotics. The CDC also states: If antibiotic treatment is clinically indicated, it should be guided by the susceptibility profile of the organism. When the tests are run to determine that the Staph bacteria isolated from a given patient are Methicillin resistant, these tests also provide information about which antibiotics can successfully kill the bacteria (its susceptibility profile). Penicillin was once used as an effective antibiotic treatment against the staph bacteria, but after using it for just a Page 4 decade, half of the staph bacteria became resistant to the antibiotic. Now less than 10% of staph infections will respond t o the Penicillin. Today, doctors use Vancomycin, which is a much stronger and more toxic antibiotic. Most moderate to severe infections need to be treated by intravenous antibiotics, usually given in the hospital setting. Prognosis: Since the beginning of 2010, the average adult death rate was about 5% of MRSA infected patients. A study in 2009 shows that children under 18 years old are at less risk of dying from MRSA. Their mortality rate is currently about 1% of all infected patients. Community acquired MRSA has far less complications than hospital acquired as long as the patient adequately responds to treatment and does not require hospitalization. However, patients with complications generally are at greater risk for a far worse outcome. Complications of MRSA can occur in all organ systems and can lead to permanent organ damage or death. They include kidney or lung infection, heart disease, bone infection, tissue damage, and blood poisoning. Of course, early diagnosis and treatment usually results in better outcomes and the reduction of further complications. It could take up to several months to recover from MRSA depending how much of the body is infected, complications, and how antibiotics respond. People who are infected are tested until the lab tests come up negative. Preventive Methods: There are several ways to lower a persons risk of acquiring both hospital and community associated MRSA. In hospitals, people who are detected with MRSA bacteria are often placed in isolation. Visitors and healthcare workers in contact with people in isolation are required to wear protective garments and follow strict hygiene procedures. Contaminated materials are also disinfected. Hospitals are required to follow strict procedures to prevent MRSA from spreading. There are several preventative methods for community related MRSA. Washing hands with soap is a major factor in preventing infection. You should wash them several times a day, especially after using restrooms or touching public materials such as payphones, rails, money, and so on. It is also important to have hand sanitizer for when no soap or water is available. Another method is to keep cuts and sores covered by bandages. It will prevent MRSA from infecting a wound or prevents wounds already infected from spreading. Its also said to avoid sharing personal items such as towels, razors, sheets, athletic equipment, and more. Prevention also includes showering after athletic games and practices and to use soap Page 5 and water and not share towels. Finally, its important to sanitize linens. You should always wash athletic cloths in hot water after each use and regularly wash bed sheets and bath towels. There is currently no vaccine to guard against MRSA, but several public facilities offer educational materials to prevent it. Various school campuses, health facilities, athletic organizations, and so on offer classes, brochures, and other resources to guard against MRSA and reduce an outbreak. In conclusion, as this strain of staph related bacteria continues to evolve and become resistant to more and more antibiotics, the number of cases of those infected outside of hospitals is on the rise. This infectious disease known as MRSA has become an epidemic that has led to more deaths in recent years than the AIDS virus. Research for immunization is currently being conducted, but in the meantime, it is crucial to your health to be more aware of the preventative methods. References: Medicinenet- â€Å"MRSA Infections†(pgs1 to 6): www. medicinenet. com/mrsa_infection/article. htm Mayo Clinic- â€Å"MRSA Infection† (pgs 1 to 9): www. mayoclinic. com/health/mrsa/DS00735 Beers, M. H. Berkow, R. (Eds. ). (2005). The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy (17thed. ). Whitehouse Station, N. J. : Merck and Company.

How College Students (and Grads) Can Gain Strategic Thinking Skills

How College Students (and Grads) Can Gain Strategic Thinking Skills Strategic thinking ranks high on almost every employer’s list of desirable traits. For example, recruiters in a Bloomberg Business report ranked strategic thinking as the 4th most important trait - but also one of the hardest skills to find in job applicants. In a Robert Half Management survey, 86% of CFOs considered the ability to think strategically to be important – with 30% listing it as â€Å"mandatory,† and 56% stating that it was â€Å"nice to have.† Unfortunately, the Robert Half survey also revealed that only 46% of employers provide any type of professional development. So, college students – and employees – need to take the initiative to develop these skills on their own. What is strategic thinking? The definition of strategic thinking may vary based on the person providing the explanation, but in its broadest sense, the term refers to the ability to identify critical situations, analytically and creatively evaluate relevant information, and determine the consequences of choosing a particular action. Dr. A.J. Marsden, an assistant professor of psychology and human services at Beacon College in Leesburg, Fla, tell ThoughtCo, â€Å"Generally speaking, strategic thinking is a cognitive process in which individuals think about, assess, view, and achieve success in their own and others’ lives.† She adds, â€Å"It is knowing how to assess a situation and pick the best option.† In a workplace setting, strategic thinking can help companies focus on what’s important. DeLynn Senna is the executive director of Robert Half Finance Accounting, and the author of a blog post on boosting strategic thinking skills. Senna tells ThoughtCo, â€Å"Strategic thinking involves finding ways to help the business prosper and going beyond the task level.† While some people erroneously assume that management and senior executives are responsible for critical thinking, Senna says, â€Å"It’s something that can impact every level of an organization, and is important for those entering the working world to develop early in their careers.† However, there’s more than just one component to strategic thinking. According to Blake Woolsey, executive vice president of the Mitchell PR firm, there are 8 characteristics that separate strategic thinkers from nonstrategic thinkers: Future-based vs. reactiveCurious vs. isolatedLong-term focus vs. short-term focusWilling to take risks vs. cautiousAble to prioritize vs. unable to prioritizeNimble vs. inflexibleLife-long learner vs. satisfiedCreative vs. predictable    Why strategic thinking is so important This trait helps individuals make better decisions so they can be successful on a personal and professional level. â€Å"Strategic thinking helps individuals focus, prioritize, and be more proactive in addressing specific issues and situations,† Marsden explains. â€Å"The main advantage to strategic thinking is that it helps people achieve their goals more quickly and efficiently -  it focuses on problem solving and creating a clear path to your goal.† Voltaire, the great French philosopher, once said, â€Å"Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers. Strategic thinking also includes the ability to ask the right questions. Dr. Linda Henman, author of â€Å"Challenge the Ordinary,† and â€Å"How to Move Beyond Indecision and Good Intentions,† tells ThoughCo, â€Å"When we start with ‘what’ and ‘why,’ we can get to the core of the issue we need to discuss or the problem we need to solve.† However, she believes that starting with the â€Å"how† question can lead to being distracted by methods.   And using the what/why principle, Henman says there are five specific advantages of strategic thinking: Strategic thinking helps us zero in on the critical few as we put aside the trivial many.Strategic thinking helps us keep a global perspective, which in turn, leads to dispassionate, logical thinking, not emotional reactions.When we think strategically, we see patterns and anticipate consequences.We can prioritize better when we think strategically.Strategy keeps us focused on the future, not the present or past. It’s easy to see why companies want employees with these skills. An organization is only as good as its employees, and it needs workers with the ability to make a significant impact. â€Å"Employers want big-picture thinkers with strong business acumen,† Senna says. â€Å"Hiring managers look for professionals who can use their expertise to develop and execute strategies and projects to help the business grow, increase profits, and maintain costs.†    How to develop strategic thinking skills Fortunately, strategic thinking skills can be developed, and there are a variety of settings and situations that provide opportunities for growth in this area. Senna offers the following tips: Volunteer to lead a project team, including one with colleagues from other departments. This can help you gain diverse perspectives and exposure to different problem-solving techniques.Look for training opportunities offered by your company, an external organization, or even a college class or webinar on the subject. Professional industry associations can be a good place to start to find this.Pair up with a mentor who can walk you through different decision-making processes and help you present your ideas to department leaders. This step can be especially valuable for those launching their careers.Tap the power of data. Learn how to turn business intelligence into actionable recommendations for the business. Marsden includes four additional tips: Be proactive about researching and gathering information that will help you make decisions in the future.   Read journals and articles that will help you be more informed. And when you don’t fully understand something, ask questions.  Constantly question your own opinions.  How did they form? What influences them? Are they logical? Be open-minded to the opinions of others.Learn how to embrace conflict and how to use it to come up with a creative solution.   Surround yourself with people who have different worldviews. This gives you (and them) an opportunity to learn from each other.Be sure to take cognitive breaks and allow your brain to rest.  Take time off for a brain break and put yourself in a different type of environment. This will help you develop perspective.