Standing Down

The 2017 general election has introduced us to dozens of new MPs who have entered the House of Commons, but it is also the perfect opportunity to reflect on those who have decided to stand down. In this second edition of the popular series, bestselling biographer and political journalist Rosa Prince speaks with MPs who left the parliamentary stage before the election, including big names such as Alan Johnson, Douglas Carswell, Sir Eric Pickles, Gisela Stuart and Peter Lilley. Speaking candidly about their best and worst memories, their triumphs and regrets, their personal histories and future plans, these MPs provide frank and revealing insights into their time in Parliament, the historic events they participated in and their reasons for leaving – which are as diverse as their individual political journeys. Standing Down 2017 casts a light on the fascinating careers of some of the most influential figures in UK politics in recent decades, and is a treasure trove of sage advice and pearls of wisdom for parliamentary newcomers and hopefuls alike.

The story is set in a country struggling to come to terms with change and challenged by the difficulty of good governance in the face of dire poverty juxtaposed with immense wealth. The hero finds himself challenged on a personal and professional level to be faithful to the truth and loyal to his calling even as his family disintegrates because of this. His journey to find the truth takes him to places and people who contribute to both his search and his personal growth in a way that he never expects. What starts out as a simple story about an attempted murder, in a country where murder is the order of the day, becomes an intriguing journey; a journey that exposes the dark underbelly of a society that is bent on proving to itself and the world at large that the democracy won with the blood of innocent children is a reality. The outcome is as unexpected as it is thought provoking.

The extraordinary woman thats on the front cover, is my lovely sister. Like I said before on my other book Hairology. Im from a family of eight, Im the last. Coming up in a big family is a lot of fun guaranteed. My family has helped me out a lot. Me just a lost soul on the street, trying to get directed in the right direction. I pray every time I can remember, Just the thought of God is a celebration within itself. Boy I tell you life is a wonderful joy. Its about time we start giving back to the ones who loves us the most. Im 31 and married with four children, and one on the way. The pain is server, but the end result is life, what a joy!

Standing Down: From Warrior to Civilian was created forTalking Service, the Great Books Foundation's initiative to develop reading and discussion programs for veterans, as well as their families, friends, service providers, and caregivers. Standing Down includes forty-four selections, from Homer's Iliad to personal accounts of members of the service who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also includes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, and memoirs that speak to past experiences, concerns, and aspirations of those who have served in the military and made the often-difficult transition back into civilian life.

"James is a terrific reporter, and this account of the effort to shape our military to reflect left-wing social values rather than the priorities of readiness and capability is vital." —BEN SHAPIRO, bestselling author of The Right Side of History and host of The Ben Shapiro Show "Stand Down is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand how progressives have forced radical changes on our military—no matter how much harm it does to combat readiness." — MOLLIE HEMINGWAY, bestselling coauthor of Justice on Trial "Stand Down exposes one of the greatest but least-discussed scandals of our era. Time and time again, the Obama administration undermined the military to advance left-wing political goals — and Hasson brings the goods to prove it. Every patriotic American who cares about the military needs to read this book." — BUCK SEXTON, Former CIA Counterterrorism Officer, Host of The Buck Sexton Show "James Hasson makes a powerful and convincing case in this exceptionally well-written book. Stand Down is a scathing indictment of the Obama administration’s misuse of the military as a vehicle for progressive social change at the expense of men and women in uniform." —SEAN PARNELL, Army combat veteran and New York Times bestselling author of Outlaw Platoon “Safe space” stickers on office doors at the Naval Academy. Officers apologizing for “microaggressions” against Air Force cadets. An Army “gender integration study” urging an end to “hyper-masculinity” in combat-arms units. Power Point presentations teaching commanders about “male pregnancy.” A cover-up, as senior officials placed their thumbs on the scales to ensure the success of the first female candidates at the Army’s legendary Ranger School. These are just a few of the examples documented in this explosive book, Stand Down: How Social Justice Warriors are Sabotaging the U.S. Military by former Army Captain, Afghanistan veteran, and attorney James Hasson. Hasson exposes the relentless campaign by powerful Obama administration ideologues to remake the culture and policies of the U.S. military, even over the explicit objections of military leaders. He presents evidence—drawn from government documents and exclusive interviews with more than forty sources, including high-ranking officers and Pentagon insiders—that progressive activists in the Obama Administration used the U.S. Military as their preferred vehicle to advance the progressive agenda. The stories paint a troubling picture of what happens when leftwing political operatives impose a political agenda on our nation’s military: they render our forces less effective, place our military men and women in greater danger, and compromise the military’s sole objective: to protect America by winning the nation’s wars. “Military readiness” is a term politicians and pundits often use in the abstract to describe our military’s ability to defeat its adversaries. But it ultimately describes how well we have prepared and equipped a young soldier or sailor to prevail over an enemy determined to do them harm. Hasson makes a compelling case that our nation has a moral obligation to ensure that the sons and daughters it sends to war have the best possible chance of victory—which means we must embrace only the policies that help us win wars and reject those that don’t. Political agendas of any kind invite corruption, jeopardize lives, and undermine the mission. They have no place in military policy—a principle that the Obama administration either disdained or failed to understand.

`The author enables parents and professionals to see inside an Asperger mind. Interwoven into the text is some sound advice about the best ways of helping individuals with the syndrome. This includes some helpful 'recommendations for teaching' Asperger students, with an attached list of 'things teachers should know'. Throughout, there are poignant reminders of the author's vulnerability and the cruelty of some of her acquaintances'- British Journal of Learning for Support `This book will be relevant to teachers, those working within FE and HE and professionals working in the field of mental health' - Educational Psychology in Practice `This book is easy to read and one to recommend to colleagues, parents and possibly some young people with Asperger's Syndrome' - Support for Learning `Nita's personal account of living with Asperger's Syndrome is an enlightening read. Each chapter gives a revealing insight into her personal experience and challenges of day-to-day life - Contact a Family This book is a fascinating account of Nita Jackson's experience of Aspergers Syndrome. If you have already read Clare Sainsbury's Martian in the Playground, don't expect a similar publication. Nita offers a personal account of her unique world: " is she size 10 or 16? " where does she come from? " will she be up or down today? The book contains personal descriptions of how Aspergers Syndrome affects the author's day-to-day life and the people around her. Nita shows off her intensely creative talent in her poetry and diary entries, which are used throughout the book. At times, this is an uncomfortable read. However, it is an essential text if you want to understand how the world looks from Nita's perspective.

An e-original novella from New York Times bestselling author J. A. Jance. Life has shifted for J. P. Beaumont. After a tragic accident that devastated—and ultimately disbanded—his Special Homicide Investigation Team, he accepts that he has left homicide detection behind at this point, but he has a lot of unanticipated free time on his hands. He's keeping busy with renovations on the new house that he and his wife, Mel Soames, the newly appointed chief of police in Bellingham, Washington, have bought. But new fixtures and paint palettes can occupy only so much of Beau's daily life, and Mel is encouraging him to return to where he is needed: investigating crimes. In the meantime, she is struggling to gain control of her new situation, cast into a department where some are welcoming—and some are not. It's been a few months, and the tension in the police department is rising, but Beau realizes Mel has to tackle things in her own way, so he refrains from advising. But when Beau shows up one afternoon to survey the construction at their new house and finds Mel's car there but no sign of her, his investigative instincts kick in. Suddenly he's back in the game—except this time, his heart is on the line as well as his professional dignity.

The incredible, harrowing account of how American democracy was hacked by Moscow as part of a covert operation to influence the U.S. election and help Donald Trump gain the presidency. "Russian Roulette is...the most thorough and riveting account." -- The New York Times Russian Roulette is a story of political skullduggery unprecedented in American history. It weaves together tales of international intrigue, cyber espionage, and superpower rivalry. After U.S.-Russia relations soured, as Vladimir Putin moved to reassert Russian strength on the global stage, Moscow trained its best hackers and trolls on U.S. political targets and exploited WikiLeaks to disseminate information that could affect the 2016 election. The Russians were wildly successful and the great break-in of 2016 was no "third-rate burglary." It was far more sophisticated and sinister -- a brazen act of political espionage designed to interfere with American democracy. At the end of the day, Trump, the candidate who pursued business deals in Russia, won. And millions of Americans were left wondering, what the hell happened? This story of high-tech spying and multiple political feuds is told against the backdrop of Trump's strange relationship with Putin and the curious ties between members of his inner circle -- including Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn -- and Russia. Russian Roulette chronicles and explores this bizarre scandal, explains the stakes, and answers one of the biggest questions in American politics: How and why did a foreign government infiltrate the country's political process and gain influence in Washington?