A deluxe hardcover edition of one of James Baldwin’s most admired works, exploring what it means to be Black in America and his own search for identityPart of the Beacon Classics series Originally published in 1955, James Baldwin's timeless and moving essays on life in Harlem, the protest novel, movies, and African Americans abroad inaugurated him as one of the leading interpreters of the dramatic social changes erupting in the United States in the 20th century. Through a mix of autobiographical and analytical essays, Baldwin delivers honest and raw revelations about what it means to be Black in America, specifically pre-Civil Rights Movement, and how, he himself, came to understand the nation.Writing as an artist, activist, and social critic, Baldwin examines everything from the significance of the protest novel to the motives and circumstances of the many Black expatriates of the time, from his home in “The Harlem Ghetto” to a sobering “Journey to Atlanta.” He was one of the few writing on race at the time who addressed the issue with a powerful mixture of outrage at the gross physical and political violence against Black citizens and measured understanding of their oppressors, which helped awaken a white audience to the injustices under their noses.For fans of Baldwin's well-known works or those new to Baldwin altogether, this celebrated essay collection showcases his extraordinary writing, revolutionary analyses, and prophetic insight into American culture and politics.

A dazzling collectible edition of one of the most groundbreaking thinkers of the 20th century's incisive philosophical analysis of western civilization“Herbert Marcuse taught me that it was possible to be an academic and an activist, a scholar and a revolutionary.” - Angela Davis Originally published in 1955, Herbert Marcuse’s Eros and Civilization has been deemed by the New York Times “the most significant general treatment of psychoanalytic theory since Freud himself ceased publication.” In this classic work, the internationally celebrated social theorist, philosopher, and political activist interrogates Freud's statement that civilization is based on the permanent subjugation of the human instincts to interpret the basic trends of western civilization. What emerges is an in-depth examination of the philosophical and sociological implications of Freud’s reconstruction of the prehistory of mankind. Challenging the widespread repression of his time, Marcuse imagines a utopian civilization emphasizing liberation and play. Known as the “father of the New Left,” Marcuse’s incisive critique of capitalist society and analysis of consumerism and social repression remain more relevant than ever.

“Thich Nhat Hanh’s ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. An exclusive Beacon Classics edition of the book that brought mindfulness to the Western world and continues to open the hearts and minds of readers everywhere, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic paletteThe Miracle of Mindfulness has been cherished by generations of readers for its eloquent and useful introduction to the practice of meditation. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness. From washing dishes to answering the phone to peeling an orange, he reminds us that each moment holds within it an opportunity to work toward greater self-understanding and peacefulness.Readers interested in an introduction to Buddhist thought, as well as those seeking to learn about mindfulness and stress reduction, continue to look to Thich Nhat Hanh’s classic work for guidance and inspiration. This new edition features Thich Nhat Hanh’s ever relevant reflections, for longtime readers and those new to the world of mindfulness alike. As the world we live in grows all the more overwhelming, The Miracle of Mindfulness remains a beloved antidote to the accelerated speed and intense expectations of our lives.

The powerful memoir of the most celebrated and blacklisted Black American of the 20th century—offering a defiant challenge to the prevailing fear and racism that continues to characterize American societyA limited Beacon Classics edition, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic palette Paul Robeson recounts his journey from star athlete to esteemed actor, singer, and civil rights activist, and the racism and political persecution he faced that attempted to silence him. In the first half of the 20th century, Robeson's international achievements in starring roles on stage and screen made him the most celebrated Black American of his day. But his outspoken criticism of racism in the United States, his strong support of African independence, and his fascination with the Soviet Union placed him under the debilitating scrutiny of McCarthyism.A bold answer to his accusers, Here I Stand details how these challenges Robeson faced only strengthened his resolve to fight against injustice. In our own time of increased scrutiny and attempts to limit people’s right to protest, Robeson’s unwavering courage and commitment to his principles offers an inspiring model for how we all must continue to stand up for what we believe in.Here I Stand is not simply a memoir, but a testament to the enduring spirit of resilience and resistance in the face of adversity.

The extraordinary biographical novel about a Chinese-American woman who fought for independence and dignity in the American WestA limited Beacon Classics edition, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic palette“Fast-paced and entertaining-packed with adventure, drama, and inspiration.” —San Francisco Chronicle Lalu Nathoy’s father called his thirteen-year-old daughter his treasure, his “thousand pieces of gold”—yet when famine strikes northern China in 1871, he is forced to sell her. Polly, as Lalu is later called, is sold to a brothel, sold again to a slave merchant bound for America, auctioned to a saloonkeeper, and offered as a prize in a poker game. Celebrated author Ruthanne Lum McCunn traces the gripping narrative of Lalu’s courageous attempts to escape captivity and then enslavement, and her unflagging efforts to live free in the American West as Polly, despite devastating losses. With over a quarter of a million copies sold, Thousand Pieces of Gold remains an enduring classic of biographical historical fiction, starring an unforgettable Chinese-American heroine whose struggles put a human face on the anti-immigration policies of the past and present.

A must-have hardcover edition of the watershed book on 18th-century pirates and the amazingly democratic and egalitarian communities they createdPart of the Beacon Classics series Villains of All Nations explores the “Golden Age” of Atlantic piracy (1716-1726) and the infamous generation whose images underlie our modern, romanticized view of pirates.Rediker introduces us to the dreaded black flag, the Jolly Roger; swashbuckling figures such as Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard; and the unnamed, unlimbed pirate who was likely Robert Louis Stevenson's model for Long John Silver in Treasure Island.This history shows from the bottom up how sailors emerged from deadly working conditions on merchant and naval ships, turned pirate, and created a starkly different reality aboard their own ships, electing their officers, dividing their booty equitably, and maintaining a multinational social order. The real lives of this motley crew —which included cross-dressing women, people of color, and the “outcasts of all nations"—are far more compelling than contemporary myth.

3 leading Black scholars radically reframe the debates surrounding the academic achievement of African American students in this groundbreaking essay collectionA limited Beacon Classics edition, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic palette The unique social and cultural position Black students occupy—in a society which often devalues and stereotypes African American identity—fundamentally shapes students’ experience of school and sets up unique obstacles. In 3 separate but allied essays, Theresa Perry, Claude Steele, and Asa Hilliard provide an understanding of how these forces work, opening the door to practical, powerful methods for promoting high achievement at all levels.Theresa Perry opens with illuminating how the dilemmas Black students face are rooted in the experience of race and ethnicity in America, making the task of achievement distinctive and difficult.Claude Steele follows up with stunningly clear empirical psychological evidence that when Black students believe they are being judged as members of a stereotyped group—rather than as individuals—they do worse on tests.Finally, Asa Hilliard argues against a variety of false theories and misguided views of African American achievement, sharing examples of real schools, programs, and teachers around the country that allow Black students to achieve at high levels.Nearly 20 years since its first publication, Young, Gifted, and Black remains a critical text for educators and social justice advocates alike, showcasing the imperative work that must still be done to change the way we talk and think about Black student achievement.

A “finely gifted writer” shares 15 “brilliantly written episodes covering the years from studenthood to the end of medical residency” at Bellevue Hospital (Oliver Sacks, MD, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat).Singular Intimacies is the story of becoming a doctor by immersion at Bellevue Hospital, the oldest public hospital in the country—and perhaps the most legendary. It is both the classic inner-city hospital and a unique amalgam of history, insanity, beauty, and intellect. When Danielle Ofri enters these 250-year-old doors as a tentative medical student, she is immediately plunged into the teeming world of urban medicine: mysterious illnesses, life-and-death decisions, patients speaking any one of a dozen languages, and overworked interns devising creative strategies to cope with the feverish intensity of a big-city hospital.Yet the emphasis of Singular Intimacies is not so much on the arduous hours in medical training (which certainly exist here), but on the evolution of an instinct for healing. In a hospital without the luxury of private physicians, where patients lack resources both financial and societal, where poverty and social strife are as much a part of the pathology as any microbe, it is the medical students and interns who are thrust into the searing intimacy that is the doctor-patient relationship. In each memorable chapter, Ofri’s progress toward becoming an experienced healer introduces not just a patient in medical crisis, but a human being with an intricate and compelling history. Ofri learns to navigate the tangled vulnerabilities of doctor and patient—not to simply battle the disease.

Long before U.S. News and World Report named him one of America's Best Leaders and Oprah Winfrey called him "an angel from God," Geoffrey Canada was a small, vulnerable, scared boy growing up in the South Bronx. Canada's world was one where "sidewalk" boys learned the codes of the block and were ranked through the rituals of fist, stick, and knife. Then the streets changed, and the stakes got even higher. In this candid and riveting memoir, Canada relives a childhood in which violence stalked every street corner. "If you wonder how a fourteen-year-old can shoot another child his own age in the head and then go home to dinner," Canada writes, "you need to know you don't get there in a day, or week, or month. It takes years of preparation to be willing to commit murder, to be willing to kill or die for a corner, a color, or a leather jacket."

A deluxe hardcover edition of one of James Baldwin’s most admired works, exploring what it means to be Black in America and his own search for identityPart of the Beacon Classics series Originally published in 1955, James Baldwin's timeless and moving essays on life in Harlem, the protest novel, movies, and African Americans abroad inaugurated him as one of the leading interpreters of the dramatic social changes erupting in the United States in the 20th century. Through a mix of autobiographical and analytical essays, Baldwin delivers honest and raw revelations about what it means to be Black in America, specifically pre-Civil Rights Movement, and how, he himself, came to understand the nation.Writing as an artist, activist, and social critic, Baldwin examines everything from the significance of the protest novel to the motives and circumstances of the many Black expatriates of the time, from his home in “The Harlem Ghetto” to a sobering “Journey to Atlanta.” He was one of the few writing on race at the time who addressed the issue with a powerful mixture of outrage at the gross physical and political violence against Black citizens and measured understanding of their oppressors, which helped awaken a white audience to the injustices under their noses.For fans of Baldwin's well-known works or those new to Baldwin altogether, this celebrated essay collection showcases his extraordinary writing, revolutionary analyses, and prophetic insight into American culture and politics.

A dazzling collectible edition of one of the most groundbreaking thinkers of the 20th century's incisive philosophical analysis of western civilization“Herbert Marcuse taught me that it was possible to be an academic and an activist, a scholar and a revolutionary.” - Angela Davis Originally published in 1955, Herbert Marcuse’s Eros and Civilization has been deemed by the New York Times “the most significant general treatment of psychoanalytic theory since Freud himself ceased publication.” In this classic work, the internationally celebrated social theorist, philosopher, and political activist interrogates Freud's statement that civilization is based on the permanent subjugation of the human instincts to interpret the basic trends of western civilization. What emerges is an in-depth examination of the philosophical and sociological implications of Freud’s reconstruction of the prehistory of mankind. Challenging the widespread repression of his time, Marcuse imagines a utopian civilization emphasizing liberation and play. Known as the “father of the New Left,” Marcuse’s incisive critique of capitalist society and analysis of consumerism and social repression remain more relevant than ever.

“Thich Nhat Hanh’s ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. An exclusive Beacon Classics edition of the book that brought mindfulness to the Western world and continues to open the hearts and minds of readers everywhere, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic paletteThe Miracle of Mindfulness has been cherished by generations of readers for its eloquent and useful introduction to the practice of meditation. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness. From washing dishes to answering the phone to peeling an orange, he reminds us that each moment holds within it an opportunity to work toward greater self-understanding and peacefulness.Readers interested in an introduction to Buddhist thought, as well as those seeking to learn about mindfulness and stress reduction, continue to look to Thich Nhat Hanh’s classic work for guidance and inspiration. This new edition features Thich Nhat Hanh’s ever relevant reflections, for longtime readers and those new to the world of mindfulness alike. As the world we live in grows all the more overwhelming, The Miracle of Mindfulness remains a beloved antidote to the accelerated speed and intense expectations of our lives.

The powerful memoir of the most celebrated and blacklisted Black American of the 20th century—offering a defiant challenge to the prevailing fear and racism that continues to characterize American societyA limited Beacon Classics edition, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic palette Paul Robeson recounts his journey from star athlete to esteemed actor, singer, and civil rights activist, and the racism and political persecution he faced that attempted to silence him. In the first half of the 20th century, Robeson's international achievements in starring roles on stage and screen made him the most celebrated Black American of his day. But his outspoken criticism of racism in the United States, his strong support of African independence, and his fascination with the Soviet Union placed him under the debilitating scrutiny of McCarthyism.A bold answer to his accusers, Here I Stand details how these challenges Robeson faced only strengthened his resolve to fight against injustice. In our own time of increased scrutiny and attempts to limit people’s right to protest, Robeson’s unwavering courage and commitment to his principles offers an inspiring model for how we all must continue to stand up for what we believe in.Here I Stand is not simply a memoir, but a testament to the enduring spirit of resilience and resistance in the face of adversity.

The extraordinary biographical novel about a Chinese-American woman who fought for independence and dignity in the American WestA limited Beacon Classics edition, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic palette“Fast-paced and entertaining-packed with adventure, drama, and inspiration.” —San Francisco Chronicle Lalu Nathoy’s father called his thirteen-year-old daughter his treasure, his “thousand pieces of gold”—yet when famine strikes northern China in 1871, he is forced to sell her. Polly, as Lalu is later called, is sold to a brothel, sold again to a slave merchant bound for America, auctioned to a saloonkeeper, and offered as a prize in a poker game. Celebrated author Ruthanne Lum McCunn traces the gripping narrative of Lalu’s courageous attempts to escape captivity and then enslavement, and her unflagging efforts to live free in the American West as Polly, despite devastating losses. With over a quarter of a million copies sold, Thousand Pieces of Gold remains an enduring classic of biographical historical fiction, starring an unforgettable Chinese-American heroine whose struggles put a human face on the anti-immigration policies of the past and present.

A must-have hardcover edition of the watershed book on 18th-century pirates and the amazingly democratic and egalitarian communities they createdPart of the Beacon Classics series Villains of All Nations explores the “Golden Age” of Atlantic piracy (1716-1726) and the infamous generation whose images underlie our modern, romanticized view of pirates.Rediker introduces us to the dreaded black flag, the Jolly Roger; swashbuckling figures such as Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard; and the unnamed, unlimbed pirate who was likely Robert Louis Stevenson's model for Long John Silver in Treasure Island.This history shows from the bottom up how sailors emerged from deadly working conditions on merchant and naval ships, turned pirate, and created a starkly different reality aboard their own ships, electing their officers, dividing their booty equitably, and maintaining a multinational social order. The real lives of this motley crew —which included cross-dressing women, people of color, and the “outcasts of all nations"—are far more compelling than contemporary myth.

3 leading Black scholars radically reframe the debates surrounding the academic achievement of African American students in this groundbreaking essay collectionA limited Beacon Classics edition, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic palette The unique social and cultural position Black students occupy—in a society which often devalues and stereotypes African American identity—fundamentally shapes students’ experience of school and sets up unique obstacles. In 3 separate but allied essays, Theresa Perry, Claude Steele, and Asa Hilliard provide an understanding of how these forces work, opening the door to practical, powerful methods for promoting high achievement at all levels.Theresa Perry opens with illuminating how the dilemmas Black students face are rooted in the experience of race and ethnicity in America, making the task of achievement distinctive and difficult.Claude Steele follows up with stunningly clear empirical psychological evidence that when Black students believe they are being judged as members of a stereotyped group—rather than as individuals—they do worse on tests.Finally, Asa Hilliard argues against a variety of false theories and misguided views of African American achievement, sharing examples of real schools, programs, and teachers around the country that allow Black students to achieve at high levels.Nearly 20 years since its first publication, Young, Gifted, and Black remains a critical text for educators and social justice advocates alike, showcasing the imperative work that must still be done to change the way we talk and think about Black student achievement.

A “finely gifted writer” shares 15 “brilliantly written episodes covering the years from studenthood to the end of medical residency” at Bellevue Hospital (Oliver Sacks, MD, author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat).Singular Intimacies is the story of becoming a doctor by immersion at Bellevue Hospital, the oldest public hospital in the country—and perhaps the most legendary. It is both the classic inner-city hospital and a unique amalgam of history, insanity, beauty, and intellect. When Danielle Ofri enters these 250-year-old doors as a tentative medical student, she is immediately plunged into the teeming world of urban medicine: mysterious illnesses, life-and-death decisions, patients speaking any one of a dozen languages, and overworked interns devising creative strategies to cope with the feverish intensity of a big-city hospital.Yet the emphasis of Singular Intimacies is not so much on the arduous hours in medical training (which certainly exist here), but on the evolution of an instinct for healing. In a hospital without the luxury of private physicians, where patients lack resources both financial and societal, where poverty and social strife are as much a part of the pathology as any microbe, it is the medical students and interns who are thrust into the searing intimacy that is the doctor-patient relationship. In each memorable chapter, Ofri’s progress toward becoming an experienced healer introduces not just a patient in medical crisis, but a human being with an intricate and compelling history. Ofri learns to navigate the tangled vulnerabilities of doctor and patient—not to simply battle the disease.

Long before U.S. News and World Report named him one of America's Best Leaders and Oprah Winfrey called him "an angel from God," Geoffrey Canada was a small, vulnerable, scared boy growing up in the South Bronx. Canada's world was one where "sidewalk" boys learned the codes of the block and were ranked through the rituals of fist, stick, and knife. Then the streets changed, and the stakes got even higher. In this candid and riveting memoir, Canada relives a childhood in which violence stalked every street corner. "If you wonder how a fourteen-year-old can shoot another child his own age in the head and then go home to dinner," Canada writes, "you need to know you don't get there in a day, or week, or month. It takes years of preparation to be willing to commit murder, to be willing to kill or die for a corner, a color, or a leather jacket."