Thumbs Up

Little Brown Bear must learn how to stop sucking his thumb in this eBook.

Courageous comeback of White House press secretary.

Far from an elite practice reserved for the highly educated, criticism is all around us. We turn to the Yelp reviewers to decide what restaurants are best, to Rotten Tomatoes to guide our movie choices, and to a host of voices on social media for critiques of political candidates, beach resorts, and everything in between. Yet even amid this ever-expanding sea of opinions, professional critics still hold considerable power in guiding how we make aesthetic judgements. Philosophers and lovers of art continue to grapple with questions that have fascinated them for centuries: How should we engage with works of art? What might enhance such encounters? Should some people’s views be privileged? Who should count as a critic? And do critics actually help us appreciate art? In Two Thumbs Up, philosopher Stephanie Ross tackles these questions, revealing the ways that critics influence our decisions, and why that’s a good thing. Starting from David Hume’s conception of ideal critics, Ross refines his position and makes the case that review-based journalistic or consumer reporting criticism proves the best model for helping us find and appreciate quality. She addresses and critiques several other positions and, in the process, she demonstrates how aesthetic and philosophical concerns permeate our lives, choices, and culture. Ultimately, whether we’re searching for the right wine or the best concert, Ross encourages us all to find and follow critics whose taste we share.

Purpose defines you. What you do with that purpose redefines the world. Joey Reiman was told he might never move his hand again after a horrible, paralyzing accident in 1975. Refusing to accept this prognosis and give in to negative thoughts, all he wanted to do was move his thumb. "If I could just raise my thumb," Reiman thought, "the rest will follow." With this seed of what he now calls optimalism—believing that optimism creates optimal outcomes—Reiman did it. He gave himself a thumbs up. Now Reiman, the world's leading purpose branding expert and motivational speaker, will share his belief system with you. In Thumbs Up!, Reiman shows how five simple pointers will ultimately help you activate your dreams into actions. The secret to success is right at your fingertips. Your digits will guide you to: Give the world a thumbs up Point to your purpose in life Give your middle finger to fear March forth to take action Remember the little things that matter Thumbs Up! is a how-to that focuses on looking up and rising up to all you imagined you could be and determining that a life of purpose begins in the palm of your hand. Start your journey of life to deeper love, more meaningful work, better health, greater wealth, and richer faith.

Purpose defines you. What you do with that purpose redefines the world. Joey Reiman was told he might never move his hand again after a horrible, paralyzing accident in 1975. Refusing to accept this prognosis and give in to negative thoughts, all he wanted to do was move his thumb. "If I could just raise my thumb," Reiman thought, "the rest will follow." With this seed of what he now calls optimalism—believing that optimism creates optimal outcomes—Reiman did it. He gave himself a thumbs up. Now Reiman, the world's leading purpose branding expert and motivational speaker, will share his belief system with you. In Thumbs Up!, Reiman shows how five simple pointers will ultimately help you activate your dreams into actions. The secret to success is right at your fingertips. Your digits will guide you to: Give the world a thumbs up Point to your purpose in life Give your middle finger to fear March forth to take action Remember the little things that matter Thumbs Up! is a how-to that focuses on looking up and rising up to all you imagined you could be and determining that a life of purpose begins in the palm of your hand. Start your journey of life to deeper love, more meaningful work, better health, greater wealth, and richer faith.

"A great resource for parents of tenacious thumb suckers. Practical, easy to follow advice from orthodontist Dr. Karen Reisner who has successfully guided many children in quitting the habit of thumb sucking over 20 years of practice."--

Thumbs Up, V for Victory, I Love You chronicles a special time, from the early 1940s through the mid-50s. It reveals how people moved forward in a world in tumult, and the payoff they received having survived it. Its about a handful of kids who because they were in the right place at the right time were provided an education well above the norms of the day. It reflects the melodrama that is real life, when young and old lived each day to the fullest while making the most of what they had. Its an oral history that tells how the wonders of discovery, communication, education and the opposite sex changed an impressionable boy into a determined young man. A period that has not been afforded the coverage it deserves, Thumbs Up, V for Victory, I Love You reveals a softer time, but one no less significant or singular than any other.