Chris Bennett – författare

From Nike Running’s Global Head Coach Chris Bennett comes a bold, welcoming book for runners, non-runners, and everyone in between. Rooted in the coaching philosophy that has helped millions take their first steps forward, it’s about finding the courage to cross the starting lines in your life. This Is About Running. This Is Not About Running. is a deeply motivating, funny, and unexpectedly moving book about what happens when we dare to step up to the starting lines in our lives. Drawing on the philosophy that has inspired millions around the world, Coach Bennett reframes running not as a test of speed, distance, or competition—but as a practice in showing up, moving forward, and discovering what’s possible when you take a chance on yourself.With his signature mix of positivity, pop-culture wisdom, and back-to-basics insight, Bennett strips away the pressure that keeps so many people stuck. Instead, he offers a refreshing invitation: you don’t have to be fast, fit, or fearless to be a runner. You just have to start. And once you do, running has a way of teaching you about far more than running: about resilience, confidence, self-trust, and the quiet power of momentum.Whether you’re lacing up for the first time, returning after years away, or simply looking for a new way to think about progress, this book is a reminder that forward is forward, and that something extraordinary can happen when you take that first step.Because the best running isn’t really about running at all.It’s about life.

From Nike Running’s Global Head Coach Chris Bennett comes a bold, welcoming book for runners, non-runners, and everyone in between. Rooted in the coaching philosophy that has helped millions take their first steps forward, it’s about finding the courage to cross the starting lines in your life. This Is About Running. This Is Not About Running. is a deeply motivating, funny, and unexpectedly moving book about what happens when we dare to step up to the starting lines in our lives. Drawing on the philosophy that has inspired millions around the world, Coach Bennett reframes running not as a test of speed, distance, or competition—but as a practice in showing up, moving forward, and discovering what’s possible when you take a chance on yourself.With his signature mix of positivity, pop-culture wisdom, and back-to-basics insight, Bennett strips away the pressure that keeps so many people stuck. Instead, he offers a refreshing invitation: you don’t have to be fast, fit, or fearless to be a runner. You just have to start. And once you do, running has a way of teaching you about far more than running: about resilience, confidence, self-trust, and the quiet power of momentum.Whether you’re lacing up for the first time, returning after years away, or simply looking for a new way to think about progress, this book is a reminder that forward is forward, and that something extraordinary can happen when you take that first step.Because the best running isn’t really about running at all.It’s about life.

While the implementation of evidence-based medicine guidelines is well studied, there has been little investigation into the extent to which a parallel evidence-based management movement has been influential within health care organizations. This book explores the various management knowledges and associated texts apparent in English health care organizations, and considers how the local reception of these texts was influenced by the macro level political economy ofpublic services reform evident during the period of the politics of austerity.The research outlined in this volume shows that very few evidence-based management texts are apparent within health care organizations, despite the influence of certain knowledge producers, such as national agencies, think tanks, management consultancies, and business schools in the industry. Bringing together the often disconnected academic literature on management knowledge and public policy, the volume addresses the ways in which preferred management knowledges and texts in these publiclyfunded settings are sensitive to the macro level political economy of public services reform, offering an empirically grounded critique of the evidence-based management movement.

Over the last thirty years, scholars of health care organizations have been searching for concepts and images to illuminate their underlying, and shifting, modes of organizing. Nowhere has this controversy been more intense than in the United Kingdom, given the long succession of top down reorganizations within the National Health Service (NHS) over the last thirty years. This book characterises the nature of key reforms - namely managed networks - introduced in theUK National Health Service during the New Labour period (1997-2010), combining rich empirical case material of such managed networks drawn from different health policy arenas (clinical genetics, cancer networks, sexual health networks, and long term care) with a theoretically informed analysis.The book makes three key contributions. Firstly, it argues that New Labour''s reforms included an important network element consistent with underlying network governance ideas, specifying conditions of ''success'' for these managed networks and exploring how much progress was empirically evident. Secondly, in order to conceptualise many of the complex health policy arenas studied, the book uses the concept of ''wicked problems'': problematic situations with no obvious solutions, whose scope goesbeyond any one agency, often with conflicting stakeholder interests, where there are major social and behavioural dimensions to be considered alongside clinical considerations. Thirdly, it makes a contribution to the expanding Foucauldian and governmentality-based literature on health careorganizations, by retheorising organizational processes and policy developments which do not fit either professional dominance or NPM models from a governmentality perspective.From the empirical evidence gathered, the book argues that managed networks (as opposed to alternative governance modes of hierarchy or markets) may well be the most suitable governance mode in those many and expanding policy arenas characterised by ''wicked problems'', and should be given more time to develop and reach their potential.

While the implementation of evidence-based medicine guidelines is well studied, there has been little investigation into the extent to which a parallel evidence-based management movement has been influential within health care organizations. This book explores the various management knowledges and associated texts apparent in English health care organizations, and considers how the local reception of these texts was influenced by the macro level political economy ofpublic services reform evident during the period of the politics of austerity.The research outlined in this volume shows that very few evidence-based management texts are apparent within health care organizations, despite the influence of certain knowledge producers, such as national agencies, think tanks, management consultancies, and business schools in the industry. Bringing together the often disconnected academic literature on management knowledge and public policy, the volume addresses the ways in which preferred management knowledges and texts in these publiclyfunded settings are sensitive to the macro level political economy of public services reform, offering an empirically grounded critique of the evidence-based management movement.

While the implementation of evidence-based medicine guidelines is well studied, there has been little investigation into the extent to which a parallel evidence-based management movement has been influential within health care organizations. This book explores the various management knowledges and associated texts apparent in English health care organizations, and considers how the local reception of these texts was influenced by the macro level political economy of public services reform evident during the period of the politics of austerity. The research outlined in this volume shows that very few evidence-based management texts are apparent within health care organizations, despite the influence of certain knowledge producers, such as national agencies, think tanks, management consultancies, and business schools in the industry. Bringing together the often disconnected academic literature on management knowledge and public policy, the volume addresses the ways in which preferred management knowledges and texts in these publicly funded settings are sensitive to the macro level political economy of public services reform, offering an empirically grounded critique of the evidence-based management movement.

Making Wicked Problems Governable? analyzes managed networks established to enhance service delivery within complex, cross-cutting sectors-a cornerstone of the health management reforms pursued by the UK New Labour governments (1997-2010). Drawing on extensive case study data, the revised second edition features a substantially expanded introduction and updated chapters, underscoring its enduring relevance to contemporary Labour government policies and the persistent challenges in health and social care. The book makes three key contributions.The first relates to Network Governance in Practice: It demonstrates that New Labour's reforms were profoundly influenced by Network Governance principles, fundamentally reshaping the structure and delivery of health care services.The second concerns 'Addressing 'Wicked Problems': By integrating the concept of 'wicked problems,' the work explores policy areas where network-based governance may offer a more effective alternative to traditional market mechanisms or hierarchical models. It compellingly argues that wicked problems are pervasive in health policy and thus merit serious consideration as an analytical framework.The third involves a Governmentality Perspective: Employing a governmentality framework, the book provides a fresh theoretical lens for understanding the indirect modes of public service governance, enriching debates on how best to manage complex policy challenges.Ideal for both policy makers and academic readers, Making Wicked Problems Governable? offers critical insights into the transformation of health care governance and presents robust frameworks for addressing some of today's most intractable public policy issues.'

Making Wicked Problems Governable? analyzes managed networks established to enhance service delivery within complex, cross-cutting sectors-a cornerstone of the health management reforms pursued by the UK New Labour governments (1997-2010). Drawing on extensive case study data, the revised second edition features a substantially expanded introduction and updated chapters, underscoring its enduring relevance to contemporary Labour government policies and the persistent challenges in health and social care. The book makes three key contributions.The first relates to Network Governance in Practice: It demonstrates that New Labour's reforms were profoundly influenced by Network Governance principles, fundamentally reshaping the structure and delivery of health care services.The second concerns 'Addressing 'Wicked Problems': By integrating the concept of 'wicked problems,' the work explores policy areas where network-based governance may offer a more effective alternative to traditional market mechanisms or hierarchical models. It compellingly argues that wicked problems are pervasive in health policy and thus merit serious consideration as an analytical framework.The third involves a Governmentality Perspective: Employing a governmentality framework, the book provides a fresh theoretical lens for understanding the indirect modes of public service governance, enriching debates on how best to manage complex policy challenges.Ideal for both policy makers and academic readers, Making Wicked Problems Governable? offers critical insights into the transformation of health care governance and presents robust frameworks for addressing some of today's most intractable public policy issues.'

Making Wicked Problems Governable? analyzes managed networks established to enhance service delivery within complex, cross-cutting sectors-a cornerstone of the health management reforms pursued by the UK New Labour governments (1997-2010). Drawing on extensive case study data, the revised second edition features a substantially expanded introduction and updated chapters, underscoring its enduring relevance to contemporary Labour government policies and the persistent challenges in health and social care. The book makes three key contributions.The first relates to Network Governance in Practice: It demonstrates that New Labour's reforms were profoundly influenced by Network Governance principles, fundamentally reshaping the structure and delivery of health care services.The second concerns 'Addressing 'Wicked Problems': By integrating the concept of 'wicked problems,' the work explores policy areas where network-based governance may offer a more effective alternative to traditional market mechanisms or hierarchical models. It compellingly argues that wicked problems are pervasive in health policy and thus merit serious consideration as an analytical framework.The third involves a Governmentality Perspective: Employing a governmentality framework, the book provides a fresh theoretical lens for understanding the indirect modes of public service governance, enriching debates on how best to manage complex policy challenges.Ideal for both policy makers and academic readers, Making Wicked Problems Governable? offers critical insights into the transformation of health care governance and presents robust frameworks for addressing some of today's most intractable public policy issues.'

Over the last thirty years, scholars of health care organizations have been searching for concepts and images to illuminate their underlying, and shifting, modes of organizing. Nowhere has this controversy been more intense than in the United Kingdom, given the long succession of top down reorganizations within the National Health Service (NHS) over the last thirty years. This book characterises the nature of key reforms - namely managed networks - introduced in the UK National Health Service during the New Labour period (1997-2010), combining rich empirical case material of such managed networks drawn from different health policy arenas (clinical genetics, cancer networks, sexual health networks, and long term care) with a theoretically informed analysis.The book makes three key contributions. Firstly, it argues that New Labour's reforms included an important network element consistent with underlying network governance ideas, specifying conditions of 'success' for these managed networks and exploring how much progress was empirically evident. Secondly, in order to conceptualise many of the complex health policy arenas studied, the book uses the concept of 'wicked problems': problematic situations with no obvious solutions, whose scope goes beyond any one agency, often with conflicting stakeholder interests, where there are major social and behavioural dimensions to be considered alongside clinical considerations. Thirdly, it makes a contribution to the expanding Foucauldian and governmentality-based literature on health care organizations, by retheorising organizational processes and policy developments which do not fit either professional dominance or NPM models from a governmentality perspective. From the empirical evidence gathered, the book argues that managed networks (as opposed to alternative governance modes of hierarchy or markets) may well be the most suitable governance mode in those many and expanding policy arenas characterised by 'wicked problems', and should be given more time to develop and reach their potential.

There are many people who have a stroke every year. The event, whether they remember it or not, means they have to go through rehabilitation, coping with anxiety, feeling angry, depressed, and isolated, but there is help and support. Through this book, Chris hopes to motivate others, even professionals who deal with strokes, to look at the patient care before, during, and post stroke by sharing her story.

“This is the ultimate guide, and Chris is the undisputed heavyweight champion of foraging in the South.” —Sean Brock, author of Heritage and chef of McCradys, Minero, and Husk The Southeast offers a veritable feast for foragers, and with Chris Bennett as your trusted guide you will learn how to safely find and identify an abundance of delicious wild plants. The plant profiles in Southeast Foraging include clear, color photographs, identification tips, guidance on how to ethically harvest, and suggestions for eating and preserving. A handy seasonal planner details which plants are available during every season. Thorough, comprehensive, and safe, this is a must-have for foragers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Although little known, cannabis and other psychoactive plants held a prominent and important role in the Occult arts of Alchemy and Magic, as well as being used in ritual initiations of certain secret societies. Find out about the important role cannabis played in helping to develop modern medicines through alchemical works. Cannabis played a pivotal role in spagyric alchemy, and appears in the works of alchemists such as Zosimos, Avicenna, Llull, Paracelsus, Cardano and Rabelais. Cannabis also played a pivotal role in medieval and renaissance magic and recipes with instructions for its use appear in a number of influential and important grimoires such as the Picatrix, Sepher Raxiel: Liber Salomonis, and The Book of Oberon. Could cannabis be the Holy Grail? With detailed historical references, the author explores the allegations the Templars were influenced by the hashish ingesting Assassins of medieval Islam, and that myths of the Grail are derived from the Persian traditions around the sacred beverage known as haoma, which was a preparation of cannabis,opium and other drugs. Many of the works discussed, have never been translated into English, or published in centuries. The unparalleled research in this volume makes it a potential perennial classic on the subjects of both medieval and renaissance history of cannabis, as well as the role of plants in the magical and occult traditions.

10,000 years ago. On a mythical island.Where powerful magic exists that is destined to be lost to the seas.Timaeus is a Wind Student, training to be a Wind Elemental. It is through an extraordinary anomaly that it is discovered he can use more than Wind Magic, this marks the beginning of an extraordinary adventure as he learns the extent of his abilities.The Dark Elementals, malevolent and monstrous warriors, corrupted by Dark Magic, seek to revive a great evil that was sealed away long ago. After centuries of waiting they put their plan into motion, they invade Atlantis causing a war to break out, slaughtering Atlantis' forces to find what they need to revive the great evil.At the climax of the war, Timaeus has to do everything in his power to protect the world from the great evil his enemies intend to unleash. With no friends or allies by his side to help him stop his enemies and with the island sinking to the bottom of the ocean, before Timaeus confronts the Dark Elementals he uses a form of Magic to determine the outcome. Unbeknownst to him despite what he sees, the battle is far from over. After facing the Dark Elementals in a final battle, Timaeus and his arch-nemesis are trapped inside a Magic Crystal which is found 10,000 years later in the present day.The Last Elemental is a character-driven epic fantasy action forged in a thrilling, absorbing, and attractive plot that reaches into the fate of a mythical world.

10,000 years ago. On a mythical island.Where powerful magic exists that is destined to be lost to the seas.Timaeus is a Wind Student, training to be a Wind Elemental. It is through an extraordinary anomaly that it is discovered he can use more than Wind Magic, this marks the beginning of an extraordinary adventure as he learns the extent of his abilities.The Dark Elementals, malevolent and monstrous warriors, corrupted by Dark Magic, seek to revive a great evil that was sealed away long ago. After centuries of waiting they put their plan into motion, they invade Atlantis causing a war to break out, slaughtering Atlantis' forces to find what they need to revive the great evil.At the climax of the war, Timaeus has to do everything in his power to protect the world from the great evil his enemies intend to unleash. With no friends or allies by his side to help him stop his enemies and with the island sinking to the bottom of the ocean, before Timaeus confronts the Dark Elementals he uses a form of Magic to determine the outcome. Unbeknownst to him despite what he sees, the battle is far from over. After facing the Dark Elementals in a final battle, Timaeus and his arch-nemesis are trapped inside a Magic Crystal which is found 10,000 years later in the present day.The Last Elemental is a character-driven epic fantasy action forged in a thrilling, absorbing, and attractive plot that reaches into the fate of a mythical world.

The stroke I am referring to in this book is a CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident). In my case, it was a blockage in the central lobe with a banging headache, dizziness and then the whole left side losing feeling. Not nice! I realised this was life threatening when my consultant turned to my husband and said, “We need to act quickly; time is not on her side.” My husband’s response was, “Don’t stand there, get on with it!” If he hadn’t, my life now would be very different.My concentration levels were not good at first. I knew I needed to keep my brain active: I did not want to lose my mind, memory etc. However, with the help, love and support of others (and two years on), I can now share my thoughts on this experience. Who knows? It may help others to cope.Through this book, I am going to share my deepest darkest days, and explain to you why I feel lucky.