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Book History of Sikh Gurus Retold  1606 1708 C E

Download or read book History of Sikh Gurus Retold 1606 1708 C E written by Surjit Singh Gandhi and published by Atlantic Publishers & Dist. This book was released on 2007 with total page 734 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Impulse Behind The Study In Hand Was The Longing To Find Adequate Answers To Certain Vital Questions What Exactly Does Sikhism Stand For? Why Was It Originated And Developed By Guru Nanak And His Nine Successors? How Did It Strike Roots Among People? What Institutions And Structures The Gurus Evolved To Highlight And Escalate It? What Type Of Praxis Of Man And Society Gurus Visualized? How Was It Different From Contemporary Religious Systems Islam, Hinduism, Sahajyana, Buddhism, Nathism, Bhakti System Etc.? Was It A Synthesis Of Different Traits Of Different Religions? Was It A Syncretism Of Hindu And Muslim Cultures Or Was It An Independent System? Did Sikhism Purport To Design To Raise Itself On Premises Different From The Ones Which Formed The Foundations Of Hindu Or Other Societies? Was It Merely Reformist Movement Aiming At Certain Targets Within Time And Space Or A Distinct Spirito-Social Process To Urge The People To March Towards Integrated Development Both At Micro And Macro Levels? What Was The True Nature Of Supreme Reality As Conceived By The Gurus? How Is This Related With The Universe Including Man And How Does It Permeate, Pervade And Operate The Whole Universe? What Type Of Society Conforms To God S Will And How Was Its Consummation Possible? Which Models Of Polity And Social Edifice Were Recommended By The Gurus? Is Sikhism A Life-Affirming Dispensation Or Life-Negating Philosophy? Why Was Structural Bonding Of Religion And Politics Effected And Institutionalised? What Is The Place Of Sikhism In The Comity Of Religions And How It Is Relevant To Challenges Of The Present-Day World? Such Questions And A Lot More Being Vital And Crucial For The Understanding Of The Role Of Gurus And Their Dispensation, Have Been Fully Taken Cognizance Of In The Present Study.

Book History of Sikh Gurus Retold  1469 1606 C E

Download or read book History of Sikh Gurus Retold 1469 1606 C E written by Surjit Singh Gandhi and published by Atlantic Publishers & Dist. This book was released on 2007 with total page 506 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Impulse Behind The Study In Hand Was The Longing To Find Adequate Answers To Certain Vital Questions What Exactly Does Sikhism Stand For? Why Was It Originated And Developed By Guru Nanak And His Nine Successors? How Did It Strike Roots Among People? What Institutions And Structures The Gurus Evolved To Highlight And Escalate It? What Type Of Praxis Of Man And Society Gurus Visualized? How Was It Different From Contemporary Religious Systems Islam, Hinduism, Sahajyana, Buddhism, Nathism, Bhakti System Etc.? Was It A Synthesis Of Different Traits Of Different Religions? Was It A Syncretism Of Hindu And Muslim Cultures Or Was It An Independent System? Did Sikhism Purport To Design To Raise Itself On Premises Different From The Ones Which Formed The Foundations Of Hindu Or Other Societies? Was It Merely Reformist Movement Aiming At Certain Targets Within Time And Space Or A Distinct Spirito-Social Process To Urge The People To March Towards Integrated Development Both At Micro And Macro Levels? What Was The True Nature Of Supreme Reality As Conceived By The Gurus? How Is This Related With The Universe Including Man And How Does It Permeate, Pervade And Operate The Whole Universe? What Type Of Society Conforms To God S Will And How Was Its Consummation Possible? Which Models Of Polity And Social Edifice Were Recommended By The Gurus? Is Sikhism A Life-Affirming Dispensation Or Life-Negating Philosophy? Why Was Structural Bonding Of Religion And Politics Effected And Institutionalised? What Is The Place Of Sikhism In The Comity Of Religions And How It Is Relevant To Challenges Of The Present-Day World? Such Questions And A Lot More Being Vital And Crucial For The Understanding Of The Role Of Gurus And Their Dispensation, Have Been Fully Taken Cognizance Of In The Present Study.

Book What is God s Revelation

Download or read book What is God s Revelation written by Ramin Pourfarzib and published by WestBow Press. This book was released on 2024-04-02 with total page 507 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: History is full of people who have claimed they came from God or bore messages from God, such as Confucius, Buddha, Bahaullah, Muhammed, Jesus, and many others. Buddhists believe in the wheel of reincarnation to reach nirvana or nothingness. Hindus believe God reveals Himself through various avatars. Muslims believe Muhammed is the final prophet and Jesus is not the Son of God. Orthodox Jews deny Jesus as the Messiah. Christians believe Jesus fulfilled the Messianic prophecies and is the Son of God. Atheists deny God’s existence altogether! These belief systems cannot all be true, so how can we know who is telling the truth? Promoting religious literacy is crucial to addressing the devastating impact of false religions. Religious literacy enables individuals to critically evaluate different belief systems, recognize the signs of manipulation, and differentiate between genuine spiritual teachings and false ideologies. Find out how to determine whether there is a God and which faith is telling the truth in this book, which applies a litmus test to seek God’s revelation to humanity through His prophets and prophecies.

Book Origins and History of Jats and Other Allied Nomadic Tribes of India

Download or read book Origins and History of Jats and Other Allied Nomadic Tribes of India written by Bakhshish Singh Nijjar and published by Atlantic Publishers & Dist. This book was released on 2008 with total page 452 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jats, Rajputs, Ahirs, Gujjars, Baloches And Pathans Are The Descendants Of Foreign Nomadic Tribes Such As Scythians, Ahiras, Huns, Yueh-Ches, Kushans And Turks Respectively Who Invaded India Frequently From The 7Th Century B.C. These Nomadic Tribes Were The Inhabitants Of Siberia, Eastern Europe And Western China. They Entered India As Invaders But Ultimately, They Assimilated Into The Indian Civilization, Embraced Its Religions And Settled Peacefully In India.Most Of The Anthropologists Who Have Written About The Dynastic Histories Of The People Of Panjab Have Not Included The Accounts Of Scheduled Castes Dalits, Harijans, Etc. Despite The Fact That They Are Also The Descendants Of The Invading Hordes Like The Other People Of India, And Have The Same Characteristics Of So-Called Privileged Classes. After The Achievement Of India S Independence They Started Enjoying Equal Rights In Every Sphere Of Life. Some Of Them Have Gone Ahead Of Their Fellows In Various Fields Politics, Education, Sports, Judiciary, Etc. And Have Produced Famous Personalities Like Baba Saheb Ambedkar, K.R. Narayanan And Many Others.Primarily Endogamous Communities, Calling Themselves As Jatt, Jat, Getae Or Zutt, Lived Predominantly In Large Parts Of Northern And North-Western India And In Southern And Eastern Parts, Now In Pakistan. They Were Either Sedentic Farmers Or Nomadic Pastoralists.The Book Brings Forth Various Facets Of Origins And History Of All These Classes. References And Text Have Been Painstakingly Collected From Various Authentic Sources. It Will Be Highly Useful For Students, Teachers Of History And Sociology And Researchers In Those Fields. Common Readers Interested In Knowing About The Origins And History Of Jats And Other Nomadic Tribes Of India Will Also Find It Interesting And Informative.

Book Difference at the Origin

    Book Details:
  • Author : Paul Manithottil
  • Publisher : Atlantic Publishers & Dist
  • Release : 2008
  • ISBN : 9788126909193
  • Pages : 244 pages

Download or read book Difference at the Origin written by Paul Manithottil and published by Atlantic Publishers & Dist. This book was released on 2008 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Heidegger S Way Of Thinking Has Left A Rich Legacy For Post-Modern Philosophers, Particularly For Jacques Derrida Who Has Greatly Influenced Philosophy And Literature In The Modern Times.Derrida, Like His Mentor Heidegger, Understands That In The Western Philosophy, The Meaning Of Being Has Been Determined By Metaphysics Of Presence. However, Unlike Heidegger, Derrida Does Not Begin His Philosophical Career With A Question On Being. Nor Does He Take Up Philosophical Positions Traditional Or Otherwise.The Purpose Of The Present Study Is The Critical Evaluation Of Derrida S Claim That He Deconstructed One Of Heidegger S Most Important Essays The Origin Of The Work Of Art By Which He Tries To Overcome The Metaphysics Of Presence.The Book Presents An In-Depth Analysis Of Heidegger S Question Of The Meaning Of Being, And Derrida S Critique Of Western Logocentrism And His Philosophy Of Deconstruction. It Delves Into The Origin Of The Truth Of The Work Of Art Studying The Essence Of Thing, Equipment And Work Of Art, As Philosophised By Heidegger. It Discusses Truth As The Strife, Taking Originary Strife As The Essence Of The Meaning Of Being. It Also Includes Derrida S Criticism Of The Restitution Of The Truth Of The Work Of Art, And An Evaluation Of The Differential Structure Of The Truth Of The Painting As A Work Of Art. A Comparative Study Of The Philosophies Of Heidegger And Derrida Has Been Given Under Non-Originary Origin Of Truth And Difference As The Origin .References Have Been Given At The End Of Each Chapter To Facilitate Easy Understanding Of The Concepts Discussed In The Text. Besides, There Is A Comprehensive Bibliography Giving Primary As Well As Secondary Sources From Which The Book Has Drawn. The Book Shall Be Highly Useful To The Students And Teachers Of Philosophy, Theology, Metaphysics And The Researchers In These Fields.

Book India

    Book Details:
  • Author : Alexander P. Varghese
  • Publisher : Atlantic Publishers & Dist
  • Release : 2008
  • ISBN : 9788126909032
  • Pages : 484 pages

Download or read book India written by Alexander P. Varghese and published by Atlantic Publishers & Dist. This book was released on 2008 with total page 484 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Book Is An Academic Endeavour On A Variety Of Themes Encompassing History, Society, Religions, Vedas, Upanishads And Epics. It Also Studies The Movements Led By Various Personalities Enjoying Places Of Prominence In Their Respective Fields.Besides The Major Tenets Of Different Religions, The Book Discusses More Than Thirty Philosophies Representing Various Shades Of Thought Classified Into Five Broad Categories: (I) Saddarsanas Or Six Visions, Inspired By The Vedas, Are Independent In Approach And Argument Though Not Isolated From One Another; (Ii) Sramanas (Strivers) Philosophies Emerged In The 6Th Century Bc. Their Proponents Were, By And Large, Empiricists Who Used Experience And Observation As A Source Of Knowledge; (Iii) The Modern Philosophies In Hindusim Emanated From The Movements Of Revival Of This Religion Through Reformist Organisations Like Arya Samaj, Brahmo Samaj, And Theosophical Society, Etc.; (Iv) The Upanishadic Philosophies Mainly Revolve Around The Concepts Of Self The Individual, And Absolute God Almighty; (V) Finally, The Philosophies Of Different Religions Are Based On Faith And Practices Propounded By Their Respective Founders Or Their Successors.This Elaborate Study Is Structured In Two Volumes Each Consisting Of A Number Of Parts That Include Chapters On Different Themes. Volume I Makes A Detailed Discussion On India, Going In-Depth Into The Name, Basic Characteristics, Geography, History, Civilization, Etc. It Effectively Unveils India S Identity As A Nation Along With Its Historical Realities, Socio-Culture Features And Contribution To The World At Large In Spiritual Pursuits. Volume Ii Is A Self-Contained Comparative Study Of Hinduism And Christianity Accentuating The Doctrinal Issues Which Mark The Points Of Accord And Possible Discords In The Cordiality And Mutuality Of These Two Great Religions. Annexures Given In The End Constitute An Integral Part Of This Volume And Will Provide Useful Study-Aids To The Readers.The Book Will Be Useful To Students, Teachers, Religious Preachers, Educationists, And All Those Who Aspire To Enhance Their Knowledge On India S History, Religion And Spiritual Philosophy.

Book Historiography

    Book Details:
  • Author : N. Jayapalan
  • Publisher : Atlantic Publishers & Dist
  • Release : 2008
  • ISBN : 9788171568383
  • Pages : 152 pages

Download or read book Historiography written by N. Jayapalan and published by Atlantic Publishers & Dist. This book was released on 2008 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Book Deals With All Aspects Of Historiography. In This Book The Chapterisation Is Clearly Made So As To Indicate The Meaning, Scope And Value Of History In An Exemplary Manner. In The Middle Of The Book Ancient, Medieval And Modern Historiography Have Been Discussed In Detail In Chronological Order. Moreover, The Chapter On Western Historians Provides An Opportunity To Know Their Contribution To Historiography. The Book Is Written In A Simple And Lucid Style So As To Meet The Requirements Of The Students And The Common Readers. The Last Chapter Of This Book Research In History Is Very Useful To The Research Students. No Wonder It Serves As A Guide To The Research Scholars Not Only In This Discipline But Also In Other Disciplines.

Book India   History  Religion  Vision And Contribution To The World

Download or read book India History Religion Vision And Contribution To The World written by Alexander P. Varghese and published by Atlantic Publishers & Dist. This book was released on 2008 with total page 452 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Book Is An Academic Endeavour On A Variety Of Themes Encompassing History, Society, Religions, Vedas, Upanishads And Epics. It Also Studies The Movements Led By Various Personalities Enjoying Places Of Prominence In Their Respective Fields.Besides The Major Tenets Of Different Religions, The Book Discusses More Than Thirty Philosophies Representing Various Shades Of Thought Classified Into Five Broad Categories: (I) Saddarsanas Or Six Visions, Inspired By The Vedas, Are Independent In Approach And Argument Though Not Isolated From One Another; (Ii) Sramanas (Strivers) Philosophies Emerged In The 6Th Century Bc. Their Proponents Were, By And Large, Empiricists Who Used Experience And Observation As A Source Of Knowledge; (Iii) The Modern Philosophies In Hindusim Emanated From The Movements Of Revival Of This Religion Through Reformist Organisations Like Arya Samaj, Brahmo Samaj, And Theosophical Society, Etc.; (Iv) The Upanishadic Philosophies Mainly Revolve Around The Concepts Of Self The Individual, And Absolute God Almighty; (V) Finally, The Philosophies Of Different Religions Are Based On Faith And Practices Propounded By Their Respective Founders Or Their Successors.This Elaborate Study Is Structured In Two Volumes Each Consisting Of A Number Of Parts That Include Chapters On Different Themes. Volume I Makes A Detailed Discussion On India, Going In-Depth Into The Name, Basic Characteristics, Geography, History, Civilization, Etc. It Effectively Unveils India S Identity As A Nation Along With Its Historical Realities, Socio-Culture Features And Contribution To The World At Large In Spiritual Pursuits. Volume Ii Is A Self-Contained Comparative Study Of Hinduism And Christianity Accentuating The Doctrinal Issues Which Mark The Points Of Accord And Possible Discords In The Cordiality And Mutuality Of These Two Great Religions. Annexures Given In The End Constitute An Integral Part Of This Volume And Will Provide Useful Study-Aids To The Readers.The Book Will Be Useful To Students, Teachers, Religious Preachers, Educationists, And All Those Who Aspire To Enhance Their Knowledge On India S History, Religion And Spiritual Philosophy.

Book Comparative Religious And Philosophies   Anthropomorphlsm And Divinity

Download or read book Comparative Religious And Philosophies Anthropomorphlsm And Divinity written by Mahinder N. Gulati and published by Atlantic Publishers & Dist. This book was released on 2008 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Economic History of India

    Book Details:
  • Author : N. Jayapalan
  • Publisher : Atlantic Publishers & Dist
  • Release : 2008-04
  • ISBN : 9788126906970
  • Pages : 370 pages

Download or read book Economic History of India written by N. Jayapalan and published by Atlantic Publishers & Dist. This book was released on 2008-04 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For a proper understanding of India s economy as we find today with its fast development, a study of its past economic conditions is necessary. India s economic history spans nearly 5000 years and dates back to Indus Valley Civilisation the two prominent cities of which Mohanjodaro and Harappa were big industrial centres having trade relations with West Asia and other parts of the world. Several sources provide us valuable information about the economic condition of the people of India at various stages of history. From Vedic literature we get a detailed description of the economic life of the Aryans. The Buddhist literature, particularly Jatakas and Tripitaka give us a glimpse of the economic condition of India from 650 to 321 B.C. when every village was a self-sufficient unit. Kautilya s Arthasastra, Magasthenes Indica and Vishakhadatta s Mudrarakshasa give detailed description of the economic systems of the Mauryan period. The accounts of Chinese travellers Fa-hien and It-sing are remarkable evidences of the socio-economic life in Gupta period. Historians like Manucci tell us about the economic reforms undertaken during Mughal rule in India. The British who carved out their empire in India in the 17th century, drained India of its wealth, destroyed the self-sufficient character of villages, increased agricultural indebtedness, and gave rise to a capitalist class in India with the growth of new urban centres. After the achievement of independence in 1947 started the process of nation-building through economic planning. With the liberalisation of Indian economy in the 1990s, the country has been put on a high growth path and is making fast economic progress. The book captures the salient features of India s economic history in chronological order. It will fulfil the needs of students and teachers of this subject and prove immensely useful to the aspirants of Civil Services and other competitive examinations.

Book The Temple Road Towards a Great India

Download or read book The Temple Road Towards a Great India written by Marta Kudelska and published by Wydawnictwo UJ. This book was released on 2019-11-30 with total page 580 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents an analysis of the foundations organised by the Birla family in India. Several generations were involved in the renovation and establishment of sanctuaries, temples and other sacral buildings. As a result, between 1933 and 1998, nineteen Birla Mandirs were established, mainly in northern and central India. All the temples have the capacity to surprise with their various decorative motifs, not seen in other places, which – apart from their aesthetic function – above all bear important symbolic content. Therefore, is it possible to treat the Birla Mandirs as a specific medium – the carrier of a particular message that is not only religious, but with a significance that permeates other layers of social and political discourse. This message, as the authors of the book claim, have a bearing on the socio-political thought of India – supported by the creation and propagation of ideas related to identity and a national art. It also conveys the idea of hierarchical Hindu inclusivism which, although considering all religions as equal, treats Hinduism in a unique way – seeing within it the most perfect form of religion, giving man the opportunity to learn the highest truth. The book also examines whether the temples founded by the Birla family and the religious activities undertaken therein apply the concept of “inventing” tradition, and whether traditions created (or “modernised”) in contemporary times are a way of enhancing the appeal of the message conveyed from temple to society. “The Vastness of Culture” is a series of publications presenting cultural studies and emphasizing the role of comparative research and analyses that reveal similarities, differences and intercultural influences. In our publications, cultures and civilizations are in a state of constant flux, engaging in dialogue, creating new understandings, competing for meaning under the influence of global content, without any clear boundaries, but with a vastness that forces questions to be raised.

Book Babur

    Book Details:
  • Author : Aabhas Maldahiyar
  • Publisher : Penguin Random House India Private Limited
  • Release : 2024-02-19
  • ISBN : 9357088776
  • Pages : 501 pages

Download or read book Babur written by Aabhas Maldahiyar and published by Penguin Random House India Private Limited. This book was released on 2024-02-19 with total page 501 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Babur, the visionary founder of Timurid Empire in Hindustan, had a fair share of early struggle following his father’s tragic demise in AD 1494. Then on, Babur embarked on an unyielding pursuit of power amid treacherous political landscapes, the narrative unveils his moniker, ‘the chessboard king,’ portraying his adept navigation through political intricacies and adversities. From his ascent to rulership in Ferghana amidst familial threats to fleeting victories and losses in Samarkand, the book paints a poignant picture of Babur's journey. It portrays his retreat to tribal lands after relinquishing hopes of reclaiming Ferghana, eventually establishing a mountainous kingdom in Kabul, a pivotal milestone preceding his ambition to expand into Hindustan. Recounting his initial endeavour to penetrate Hindustan in AD 1505, his alliances, and subsequent setbacks after Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqarah's demise, leaving him as the sole Timurid prince in power, the book opens a window to Babur's failed second attempt to enter Hindustan, encapsulating the initial thirteen to fourteen tumultuous years of his reign, marked by exile, fleeting victories, and delicate alliances. Gripping, anecdotal and deeply researched Babur: The Chessboard King delves into Hindustan's economic landscape during Timurid rule and portrays Babur as a multifaceted ruler, challenging the typical depiction of an infallible conqueror and a good human being. Meticulously sourced from the Persian manuscript of the Baburnama and other primary sources, this book represents a milestone in Babur's biographical genre, essential for comprehending the ambitions of this enigmatic king.

Book The Sikh Zafar namah of Guru Gobind Singh

Download or read book The Sikh Zafar namah of Guru Gobind Singh written by Louis E. Fenech and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2013-02-07 with total page 331 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Louis E. Fenech offers a compelling new examination of one of the only Persian compositions attributed to the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708): the Zafar-namah or 'Epistle of Victory.' Written as a masnavi, a Persian poem, this letter was originally sent to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (d. 1707) rebuking his most unbecoming conduct. Incredibly, Guru Gobind Singh's letter is included today within the Sikh canon, one of only a very small handful of Persian-language texts granted the status of Sikh scripture. As such, its contents are sung on special Sikh occasions. Perhaps equally surprising is the fact that the letter appears in the tenth Guru's book or the Dasam Granth in the standard Gurmukhi script (in which Punjabi is written) but retains its original Persian language, a vernacular few Sikhs know. Drawing out the letter's direct and subtle references to the Iranian national epic, the Shah-namah, and to Shaikh Sa'di's thirteenth-century Bustan, Fenech demonstrates how this letter served as a form of Indo-Islamic verbal warfare, ensuring the tenth Guru's moral and symbolic victory over the legendary and powerful Mughal empire. Through analysis of the Zafar-namah, Fenech resurrects an essential and intiguing component of the Sikh tradition: its Islamicate aspect.

Book Sikhs in the Eighteenth Century

Download or read book Sikhs in the Eighteenth Century written by Surjit Singh Gandhi and published by Singh Brothers. This book was released on 1999 with total page 752 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Religions of Tibet in Practice

Download or read book Religions of Tibet in Practice written by Donald S. Lopez, Jr. and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2018-06-05 with total page 435 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Originally published in 1997, Religions of Tibet in Practice is a landmark work--the first major anthology on the topic ever produced. This new edition--abridged to further facilitate course use--presents a stunning array of works that together offer an unparalleled view of the Tibetan religious landscape over the centuries. Organized thematically, the twenty-eight chapters are testimony to the vast scope of religious practice in the Tibetan world, past and present. Religions of Tibet in Practice remains a work of great value to scholars, students, and general readers.

Book Sikh Faith

    Book Details:
  • Author : Dr Gurbakhsa Singh
  • Publisher : Virsa Publications
  • Release : 2020-07-10
  • ISBN : 9387152715
  • Pages : 163 pages

Download or read book Sikh Faith written by Dr Gurbakhsa Singh and published by Virsa Publications . This book was released on 2020-07-10 with total page 163 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book War Nerd

    Book Details:
  • Author : Gary Brecher
  • Publisher : Catapult
  • Release : 2009-03-01
  • ISBN : 1593763026
  • Pages : 266 pages

Download or read book War Nerd written by Gary Brecher and published by Catapult. This book was released on 2009-03-01 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “[A] raucous, offensive, and sometimes amusing CliffsNotes compilation of wars both well-known and ignored.” —Utne Reader Self-described war nerd Gary Brecher knows he’s not alone, that there’s a legion of fat, lonely Americans, stuck in stupid, paper-pushing desk jobs, who get off on reading about war because they hate their lives. But Brecher writes about war, too. War Nerd collects his most opinionated, enraging, enlightening, and entertaining pieces. Part war commentator, part angry humorist à la Bill Hicks, Brecher inveighs against pieties of all stripes—Liberian generals, Dick Cheney, U.N. peacekeepers, the neo-cons—and the massive incompetence of military powers. A provocative free thinker, he finds much to admire in the most unlikely places, and not always for the most pacifistic reasons: the Tamil Tigers, the Lebanese Hezbollah, the Danes of 1,000 years ago, and so on, across the globe and through the centuries. Crude, scatological, un-P.C., yet deeply informed, Brecher provides a radically different, completely unvarnished perspective on the nature of warfare. “Military columnist Gary Brecher’s look at contemporary war is both offensive and illuminating. His book, War Nerd . . . aims to explain why the best-equipped armies in the world continue to lose battles to peasants armed with rocks . . . Brecher’s unrefined voice adds something essential to the conversation.” —Mother Jones “It’s international news coverage with a soul and acne, not to mention a deeply contrarian point of view.” —The Millions