July 2018

1.

In his new book, Sexual Essays: Gender, Desire, and Nakedness (2017), James Giles, takes the reader on a fascinating journey to the depths of experiential, social, biological, and evolutionary aspects of sexual life. According to Giles, gender plays a decisive role in sexual desire, which expresses itself in the erotic meaning of the sexual positions. He then explores the role of sex hormones while rejecting the idea of sexual addiction and presenting a case study of an adult baby. Looking at the evolutionary background of our sexual interactions, Giles argues it was the evolution of naked skin that was the necessary condition for the appearance of human sexuality and romantic love. These pages will prove to be absorbing reading for anyone who has ever pondered the nature of human sexuality.

Sexual Essays: Gender, Desire, and Nakedness

2.

This book examines the position of ‘contextual elements’ as a constitutive element of the legal definition of the crime of genocide, and determines the extent to which an individual génocidaire is required to act within a particular genocidal context. Unlike other books in the field of the study of the crime of genocide, this book captures the nuance and the complex issues of the debate by providing book-length comprehensive examination of the position of contextual elements in light of the evolution of genocide as a concept and the literal legal definition of the crime of genocide, which expressly characterized the crime with only the existence of an individualistic intent to destroy a group.

With scholars of international criminal law, students, researchers, practitioners in the field, and international criminal tribunals in mind, the author tackles many of the issues raised on the position of contextual elements in both academic literature and judicial decisions.

The 'Contextual Elements' of the Crime of Genocide

3.

No Way to Treat a Friend is an informative and readable exposé of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine (CAVM). Written in an accessible style and illustrated with stories and cases from veterinary practice about real animals, this book is a counterweight to the mass of ‘pro’ literature in existence which uncritically promotes CAVM without consideration of whether or not it works or could even be harmful to our animal companions.

The book takes a close look at how thinking can go wrong and how animals can appear to respond to treatment even when it is ineffective. Individual alternative practices are examined including homeopathy, acupuncture, raw diets and the anti-vaccination lobby and we find out if their claims stand up to scrutiny. With a thoroughly scientific line, it is not an attack on different belief systems, but a rigorous analysis of the facts, and a consideration of typical CAVM arguments, as well as a helpful explanation for people who may be unfamiliar with what the various therapies entail.

Following on from the several successful books questioning the use of complementary therapies in human medicine such as Bad Science, No Way to Treat a Friend looks at their use in veterinary medicine. This is a valuable resource for veterinary practitioners as well as lay people who are interested in popular science, animal topics, animal welfare and medical matters.

No Way to Treat a Friend

Your book

If you are a member of the alumni community and have recently published a book, we would be delighted to include it in the Alumni Bookshelf. Email the details, along with your degree details, to Brian Campbell:

Email Brian Campbell

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