Survival As Victory

Survival as Victory is the first anthropological study of daily life in the Soviet forced labor camps as experienced by Ukrainian women prisoners. Oksana Kis pulls from the written and oral histories of over 150 survivors to bring to life the gendered strategies of survival, accommodation, and resistance to the dehumanizing effects of the Gulag.

"Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian women were sentenced to the GULAG in the 1940s and 1950s. Only about half of them survived. In Survival as Victory: Ukrainian Women in the Gulag, Oksana Kis has produced the first anthropological study of daily life in the Soviet forced labor camps as experienced by Ukrainian women prisoners. Based on the written memoirs, autobiographies, and oral histories of over 150 survivors, this book fills a lacuna in the scholarship regarding Ukrainian experience. It details the women's resistance to the brutality of camp conditions not only through the preservation of customs and traditions from everyday home life, but also through the frequent elision of regional and confessional differences. Following on from the groundbreaking work of Anne Applebaum's Gulag: A History (2003), this book is a must-read for anyone interested in gendered strategies of survival, accommodation, and resistance to the dehumanizing effects of the Gulag"-- Provided by publisher.

From historian and strategic analyst Copley comes a charter for personal business success based on the "28 Maxims of Victory"--lessons from history on how civilizations and societies have evolved.

Moving On... is a quick read...100 Plus Pages of Pure InspirationIt began as a second edition to an earlier book. One month into the edits it took on a life of its own. While it still contains a few of the inspirational letters I wrote to a hurricane survivor, it is also a book for the survivors of storms beyond natural disasters. Storms driven by un-met needs, un-healed hurts, un-resolved issues, which shroud us in clouds of depression, low self-esteem, confusion, loneliness. The kinds of storms that leave us with broken hearts, broken dreams, broken lives. The storms you and I have lived through, and sometimes camped-out in for long weary nights. This book is about acknowledging 'what is' and making quality decisions to move on to 'what can be.' This book is about change and choices. It is about a new beginning in all areas of life. They say that the books that really change a reader's life are those that change the author's as well. In this collection of articles, book excerpts, poetry, and quotes I share my heart. I pray they will give you the inspiration for your journey as they did mine. Moving On… follows my personal journey into the world of survivors from the early days until now. It is a world of pain and beauty, hopelessness and healing, death and new life. Now imagine we are sitting at my kitchen table. I have poured you a hot cup of coffee, or tea if you prefer. There may even be a plate of warm cookies nearby. We talk and laugh, perhaps shed a few tears. As I take your hand in mine and look into your eyes I want you to realize that no matter what the present circumstances are… 'Happiness' is your destination, and 'Choice' is your passport. I tell you upfront I have only one message... “While I celebrate your survival, I know for sure it is only a launching pad for your beautiful future. You have within you all you need to begin again. God has much more for you and you can take the first step today.” Blessings, Wanda G.

In Cecil the Lion Had to Die, Olena Stiazhkina follows four families through radical transformations when the Soviet Union implodes, independent Ukraine emerges, and Russia occupies Ukraine's Crimea and parts of the Donbas. A must-read novel for those seeking deeper understanding of how Ukrainian history and local identity shapes war with Russia.

The group are no strangers to daunting challenges. Their most recent challenge has left them battle-scarred and grappling with how to help Carla and her unborn child live.Soon, their emotional scars and physical wounds begin to heal. They can finally enjoy a reprieve as winter approaches, but that's short-lived when news of a great and dangerous force approaches, threatening to shake things up once again.Conrad knows what lies ahead for them. Does he have the resources and the know-how to fend off the most brutal force yet?