Transforming Glasgow

Thirty years after Glasgow turned towards regeneration, indicators of its built environment, its health, economic performance and its quality of life remain below UK averages. This interdisciplinary study examines the ongoing transformation of Glasgow as it has transitioned from a de-industrial to a post-industrial city during the 21st Century. Looking at diverse issues of urban policy, regeneration, and economic and social change, it considers the evolving lived experiences of Glaswegians. Contributors explore the necessary actions required to secure the gains of regeneration and create an economically competitive, socially just and sustainable city, establishing a theory that moves beyond post-industrialism that serves as a model for similar cities globally.

Alasdair Gray is one of the most innovative and imaginative writers to have appeared on the Scottish literary scene for many years. Gray radically challenges the vision of Glasgow and Scotland as defined by the traditional Glasgow novel. This study first looks back into the past of Glasgow writing to locate some specific novelistic models which Gray echoes in his fiction. The main part of the study then illustrates that Gray's literary attitude of looking "beyond" Glasgow (or Scotland) is much more helpful in -imagining Glasgow- than to follow the established and trodden paths of Scottish urban writing. In this sense, Gray proves that the narrative techniques characteristic of postmodernist writing are not only helpful in expressing the often quoted Scottish experience of fragmentation, but also in "overcoming" the artistic stalemate of the Glasgow novel."

Some travelers love nothing better than to bathe in the sun. Others revel in immersing themselves in history and culture. Then there are those who are born to shop. We all know the type. In fact, we might ourselves be the type. There are some people for whom shopping is not a necessity but a sport. Insight Shopping Guides are a play book for the avid shopper who wants to level the playing field when he or she competes against natives for the best goods and deals the city has to offer. This series is for the discerning consumer who needs a little help navigating around an unfamiliar city. They are ideal shopping companions for travelers wanting lively, informative background material on the best shopping areas and reliable advice on finding the most reliable service.

Glasgow is enshrined in the popular consciousness as a city of multiple and often contradictory identities. The 'Second City of Empire', the 'Venice of the North', 'Red Clydeside' and the 'Merchant City' are a few of the phrases that have been used to project the Glasgow image, positively and negatively. This new and extensively illustrated history explores the reality behind these stereotypes, showing Glasgow's considerable longevity as a Scottish ecclesiastical and commercial centre, yet focusing on the profound social, economic and political changes over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.Glasgow uses much original material to illustrate the rich diversity of cultural influences that have contributed to the city's distinctive urban character. Particular emphasis is given to the people who shaped the ideas and attitudes of the times. Nineteenth-century economic success, most celebrated in the enduring mystique of Clyde shipbuilding, was associated with high-profile entrepreneurs who embodied both cosmopolitanism and individualism. At the same time, there was a passion in the projection of the progressive city and a commitment to social improvement that found expression in the assertive and increasingly collectivist brand of Glaswegian politics.Yet, as the author explains, Glasgow's strong sense of civic patriotism was often overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of social problems, in one of the world's most populous cities by 1914. The dislocation of war and the trauma of economic depression gave further impetus to the quest for solutions, which took dramatic (if controversial) shape in post-1945 planning policies. Contemporary Glasgow thus bears the legacy of twentieth-century industrial decline as well as cultural renewal, although Glasgow shows that there is nothing novel about regeneration strategy in a city which has a long tradition of blending innovation with historical continuity.Beautifully illustrated with over 100 photo

How would your career, social life, family ties, carbon footprint and mental health be affected if you could not leave the city where you live? Artist Ellie Harrison sparked a fast-and-furious debate about class, capitalism, art, education and much more, when news of her year-long project The Glasgow Effect went viral at the start of 2016. Named after the term used to describe Glasgow's mysteriously poor public health and funded to the tune of £15,000 by Creative Scotland, this controversial 'durational performance' centred on a simple proposition – that the artist would refuse to travel beyond Glasgow's city limits, or use any vehicles except her bike, for a whole calendar year.

The Buddhist faith maintains that it is only possible to transform our lives and the world we live in when we are receptive to the influence of higher spiritual dimensions. This commentary guides readers through the symbolism and perspective of the Mahayana Sutra of Golden Light.