Joshua Davis – författare

In the 1960s and '70s, a diverse range of storefronts-including head shops, African American bookstores, feminist businesses, and organic grocers-brought the work of the New Left, Black Power, feminism, environmentalism, and other movements into the marketplace. Through shared ownership, limited growth, and democratic workplaces, these activist entrepreneurs offered alternatives to conventional profit-driven corporate business models. By the middle of the 1970s, thousands of these enterprises operated across the United States-but only a handful survive today. Some, such as Whole Foods Market, have abandoned their quest for collective political change in favor of maximizing profits. Vividly portraying the struggles, successes, and sacrifices of these unlikely entrepreneurs,From Head Shops to Whole Foodswrites a new history of social movements and capitalism by showing how activists embraced small businesses in a way few historians have considered. The book challenges the widespread but mistaken idea that activism and political dissent are inherently antithetical to participation in the marketplace.Joshua Clark Davis uncovers the historical roots of contemporary interest in ethical consumption, social enterprise, buying local, and mission-driven business, while also showing how today's companies have adopted the language-but not often the mission-of liberation and social change.

In the 1960s and ’70s, a diverse range of storefronts—including head shops, African American bookstores, feminist businesses, and organic grocers—brought the work of the New Left, Black Power, feminism, environmentalism, and other movements into the marketplace. Through shared ownership, limited growth, and democratic workplaces, these activist entrepreneurs offered alternatives to conventional profit-driven corporate business models. By the middle of the 1970s, thousands of these enterprises operated across the United States—but only a handful survive today. Some, such as Whole Foods Market, have abandoned their quest for collective political change in favor of maximizing profits.Vividly portraying the struggles, successes, and sacrifices of these unlikely entrepreneurs, From Head Shops to Whole Foods writes a new history of social movements and capitalism by showing how activists embraced small businesses in a way few historians have considered. The book challenges the widespread but mistaken idea that activism and political dissent are inherently antithetical to participation in the marketplace. Joshua Clark Davis uncovers the historical roots of contemporary interest in ethical consumption, social enterprise, buying local, and mission-driven business, while also showing how today’s companies have adopted the language—but not often the mission—of liberation and social change.

In 2004, four undocumented Mexican teenagers arrived at the Marine Advanced Technology Education Robotics Competition at the University of California, Santa Barbara. No one had ever suggested to Oscar, Cristian, Luis, or Lorenzo that they would amount to much—but two inspiring high school science teachers convinced these kids to use their talents and build something grander than their wildest dreams: an underwater robot. Up against some of the best collegiate engineers in the country, the four Phoenix teenagers scraped together meagre funds and their tech classroom's spare parts to astound not only the competition's judges, but themselves.This young readers’ edition highlights these students’ insurmountable courage, intelligence, and determination to succeed, even when their country was against them. More timely now than ever, Spare Parts: Young Readers’ Edition is an accessible introduction to immigration and STEM, adapted by a prominent Mexican-American author.

Sixteen-year-old Mia is stranded in the middle of the Caribbean. After a mortifying incident in the school cafeteria, her parents decide there is only one way to deal with her meltdown: move onto a battered sailboat and leave everything behind. Her mum and dad think it’s the best decision they’ve ever made. Mia feels like she’s been kidnapped and imprisoned in paradise with no internet and no destination.Her only hope is to hack together a solar-powered satellite phone so she can call her best friend and fix everything. To do it, she’ll have to build a mobile laboratory on the boat and ignore her neurotic mother, who thinks Mia is falling apart.The problem is, Mia is falling apart. By day, she scours deserted islands, looking for anything she can use to build the phone. At night, she squeezes into a narrow bunk and talks to an imaginary friend. She knows, with absolute certainty, that she needs to abandon her family to save her sanity.And then two teenagers sail into her world, promising friendship, and maybe even romance. Thoughtful, soulful Alby was raised in Australia but now his family calls the sea their home. The only thing missing is his soulmate. Bold, beautiful Nisha is simply vacationing on her dad’s mega yacht when a chance encounter upends her life.Now - with everything hanging in the balance - Mia must decide who she is and what she wants. And with this decision comes the revelation that her past and future are more uncertain than she thought.

Joshua Davis and Bruno Tropeano, two guys right out of college, felt that something was amiss. People in Maine created some of the best of everything in the world — higher education, ships, television doctors, winter boots. But the gelato of which they dreamt could not be found here in Maine, or anywhere else in the United States. Josh and Bruno sensed both a responsibility and an opportunity and set off to rediscover the lost art. Imagining a long-forgotten Red Spoon Society of superior gelato artisans, they learned the techniques and practices of the old masters of gelato. They used those techniques as a foundation for creating an even better gelato experience: make lots of creative flavors for discerning guests, serve them in a way that invites discovery and delight, and never compromise on quality. In 2007, the doors to their first gelato store opened. Josh and Bruno named it Gelato Fiasco as a hedge against trend-pursuers, treasure hunters, and impostors, for only a true food lover, guided by his or her own sense of adventure, would dare enter a store with that name. And as they loved it, they would share with their families and friends, who would share with theirs. Gelato Fiasco is a book brimming with humor, Maine values, mouth-watering color photographs, and, most importantly, delicious recipes (out of 1500 in the “flavor vault” the book will include 100 or so) for making your own gelato at home, plus recipes sauces, cones, and other treats to enjoy with your gelato.