New Book: Sudden Glory by Barry Sanders

Sudden Glory presents the history of one of the most evanescent but powerful forms of human expression - laughter. Here is the first book to look not at humor or comedy, but it laughter itself - and specifically at the way laughter evolved into an effective weapon for political subversion. Barry Sanders asks What did people laugh at? And why? What was the Church's attitude? The Rabbis'? Who could do it, when, and at whom? When did the joke first appear? Sudden Glory records the changes in attitudes toward laughter from the ancient world down to the present, with specific emphasis on cultural shifts from the late Middle Ages, when the Church's reach into the realm of the body was felt throughout society, through the end of the eighteenth century, when only deviants and derelicts laughed freely. Along the way, Sanders imagines the voices of women and peasants, whose laughter often went unrecorded, but surely not unheard. Sanders concludes with a brilliant chapter on contemporary laughter, beginning with "sick" comic Lenny Bruce (with whom he was personally acquainted), and ending with women stand-up comics, who seem to be finding their voices while male comics are mired in adolescent shtick. Sudden Glory, which contains an extensive bibliography on the subject of laughter, is an important study from one of our most penetrating and playful public intellectuals.


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New Book: Don Quijote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

The history of our English translations of "Don Quixote" is instructive. Shelton's, the first in any language, was made, apparently, about 1608, but not published till 1612. This of course was only the First Part. It has been asserted that the Second, published in 1620, is not the work of Shelton, but there is nothing to support the assertion save the fact that it has less spirit, less of what we generally understand by "go," about it than the first, which would be only natural if the first were the work of a young man writing currente calamo, and the second that of a middle-aged man writing for a bookseller. On the other hand, it is closer and more literal, the style is the same, the very same translations, or mistranslations, occur in it, and it is extremely unlikely that a new translator would, by suppressing his name, have allowed Shelton to carry off the credit. In 1687 John Phillips, Milton's nephew, produced a "Don Quixote" "made English," he says, "according to the humour of our modern language." His "Quixote" is not so much a translation as a travesty, and a travesty that for coarseness, vulgarity, and buffoonery is almost unexampled even in the literature of that day. But it is, after all, the humour of "Don Quixote" that distinguishes it from all other books of the romance kind. It is this that makes it, as one of the most judicial-minded of modern critics calls it, "the best novel in the world beyond all comparison." It is its varied humour, ranging from broad farce to comedy as subtle as Shakespeare's or Moliere's that has naturalised it in every country where there are readers, and made it a classic in every language that has a literature.

You can find this book and more at the UNT Dallas Library. 

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New Book: Pre-occupation of postcolonial studies by Fawzia Afzal-Khan and Kalpana Seshadri-Crooks

The Pre-Occupation of Postcolonial Studies comprises essays by both leading figures and younger scholars engaged in the field of postcolonial studies. In this state-of-the-field reader, editors Fawzia Afzal-Khan and Kalpana Seshadri-Crooks have created a dynamic forum for contributors from a variety of theoretical and disciplinary vantage points to question both the limits and the limitations of postcolonial thought. Since it burst on the academic scene as the hot" new disciplinary field during the final decade of the twentieth century, postcolonial studies has faced criticism from those who question its "troubling" trajectories, its sometimes suspect epistemological and pedagogical methods, and its relatively narrow focus. With diverse essays that emerge from such disciplines as South Asian, Latin American, Arab, and Jewish studies, this volume responds to sceptics and adherers alike, addressing not only the broad theoretical issues at stake within the field but also the position of the field itself within the academy, as well as its relationship to modern, post-modern, and Marxist discourses. Contributors offer critiques on a historical and universalising tendencies in postcolonial work and confront the need for scholars to attend to issues of class, ideology, and the effects of neo-colonial practices. Seeking to broaden the field's traditionally literary broader spectrum of methodologies, these essayists take up large thematic issues to examine specific sites of colonial activities with all of their historical, political, and cultural significance. Closing the volume is an insightful interview with Homi Bhabha, in which he discusses postcolonial studies in the context of contemporary cultural politics and theory. The Pre-Occupation of Postcolonial Studies not only offers an overview of the discipline but also pushes and pulls at the edges of postcolonial studies, offering a comprehensive view of the field's diversity of thought and envisioning clear pathways for its future. 

You can find this book and more at the UNT Dallas Library.

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Why National Nutrition Month is Worth Celebrating

March is National Nutrition Month!

Right when our healthy New Year's habit's begin to fade, National Nutrition Month® rolls around in March to remind you of those healthy eating habits.

The theme for the 2016 National Nutrition Month® is "Savor the Flavor of Eating Right," which is all about bringing back the enjoyment factor of mealtimes. It's important to remember that food isn't just food/energy/fuel - there's so many reasons why you eat the foods you eat, when you eat them, and how those foods make you feel. In a diet-filled world, it's so easy to forget that mealtime doesn't have to be about eating certain foods because you have to and that healthy eating can actually be enjoyable.

This month's blog posts are going to focus on this year's National Nutrition Month theme, celebrating all the ways healthy eating can be enjoyable and fun. Here are some easy ways develop healthy eating habits during National Nutrition Month®, and to "Savor the Flavor of Eating Right."

Be more mindful during meals

This tip goes back to the "mindful eating" strategies outlined in last week's blog, How To Adopt These Healthy Habits From People Who Maintain a Healthy Weight (Without Dieting).

Take a look at your meal times and see how many times you're eating with the TV on, while you're on your phone, texting, on the computer, reading a book or magazine...the list goes on for the number of ways we are distracted while eating.

One research study showed that people who were distracted  with playing a computer game while they ate lunch ended up eating more, couldn't quite remember all the foods they had eaten and were less full than those who were not distracted during the meal.

• Take a break from your computer, book, and/or phone, get up out of that desk and enjoy your lunch without distractions.

• If you are eating on-the-go, make sure you have nutritious snacks available, such as fruits, vegetables, mixed nuts, string cheese, hummus, Greek yogurt, sandwiches, etc.

Enjoy the social aspect of mealtimes

Did you know that family meals are associated with healthy weights in children and adolescents and can help promote healthy eating choices? When kids are involved in family meals, they pick up healthy eating habits from mom and dad - eating healthy foods and sitting down to enjoy an undistracted meal becomes the norm.

In adults, the idea of family meal time can be shared with friends: A story recently came out about 5 New York lawyers who called themselves the "Lunch Bunch" - they make 5 portions of a healthy, homemade lunch once a week, and enjoy the others' meals the rest of the week.What a fun way to not only only have to prepare lunch just once a week, but also to try new recipes, taste new foods, and branch out from the typical brown-bag sandwich. 

Set some healthy eating goals this month

Healthy eating can be a challenge, but the good news is that good nutrition has INSTANT benefits. You don't need to go on a 30-day diet or push yourself to the max for 7 days in a row at the gym to feel good about what foods you put on your plate, which in turn will make you feel good. Nobody ever said, "Wow, I really regret making all those healthy choices!"

Tips to get started:

• Try to eat at least one serving of fruit or vegetables at each meal and snack. Try adding a banana to your morning oatmeal or packing carrots in hummus as your afternoon snack.
• Getting 25-30 grams of protein per meal can help you meet your protein needs and feel more satisfied with meals. Eat a variety of  protein sources, from beans, dairy, nuts, seeds, poultry, meat and fish. 
• Make sure to incorporate healthy fats into  your meals and snacks. People often don't feel satisfied or "hungry an hour later" after drinking a smoothie - try adding peanut butter, hemp, chia or flax seeds, or an avocado to your smoothie to make it a more balanced meal.
• Make more grains WHOLE grains. This means having brown rice, quinoa, oatmeal, whole grain bread, pasta and wraps at meals.

You might also like:

March 1st is National Peanut Butter Lover's Day! 

Real Mom Nutrition || 6 Amazing Recipes with Peanut Butter

Serious Eats || Rosa Parks' Featherlight Peanut Butter Pancakes Cool!

National Peanut Board || PB&J - The Mighty Mouthful for Athletes PB&J is my go-to snack and meal recommendation for busy athletes.

Nourish RD's || Veggie Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce Would be great with tofu or chicken for extra protein

Sharon Palmer || Eating a Plant Based Diet Doesn't Have to Break the Bank

 Follow Lizzie on Twitter to get the lastest nutrition news, research findings, and nutritious recipes!

Good nutrition is important for everyone, but athletes have increased nutrient needs due to their high activity levels, and each athlete is different in terms of what foods they should eat and when they should be eating to optimize physical performance.

 Stop into the Sanford Fieldhouse today or call 605-312-7878 to set up an appointment with the Sports Nutritionist!

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New Book: India's Nuclear Bomb by George Perkovich

In May 1998, India shocked the world—and many of its own citizens—by detonating five nuclear weapons in the Rajasthan desert. Why did India bid for nuclear weapon status at a time when 149 nations had signed a ban on nuclear testing? What drove India's new Hindu nationalist government to depart from decades of nuclear restraint, a control that no other nation with similar capacities had displayed? How has U.S. nonproliferation policy affected India's decision making?
India's Nuclear Bomb is the definitive, comprehensive history of how the world's largest democracy, has grappled with the twin desires to have and to renounce the bomb. Each chapter contains significant historical revelations drawn from scores of interviews with India's key scientists, military leaders, diplomats and politicians, and from declassified U.S. government documents and interviews with U.S. officials. Perkovich teases out the cultural and ethical concerns and vestiges of colonialism that underlie India's seemingly paradoxical stance.
India's nuclear history challenges leading theories of why nations pursue and hang onto nuclear weapons, raising important questions for international relations theory and security studies. So, too, the blasts in Rajasthan have shaken the foundations of the international nonproliferation system. With the end of the Cold War and an even more chaotic international scene, Perkovich's analysis of an alternative model is timely, sobering, and vital.

You can find this book and more at the UNT Dallas Library. 

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