MSI Press Blog

  Cultural relativism is the idea that beliefs, values, and practices must be understood within their own cultural context—not judged by the standards of another. It’s not a slogan. It’s a discipline of perception. To practice cultural relativism is to pause before labeling something “wrong,” “weird,” or “backward.” It’s to ask: What does this mean in its own world? What moral logic is at play here? What history shaped this practice? What It Is Not Cultural relativism is not moral relativism. It doesn’t say “anything goes.” It doesn’t require you to agree with every custom or abandon your own ethics. It asks you to understand first, judge later—if at all . Why It Matters It protects against ethnocentrism—the assumption that your culture is the default. It opens space for genuine dialogue across difference. It helps researchers, diplomats, and global leaders interpret behavior without distortion. It reminds us that “normal” is a local setting, not a universal truth. A Si...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is  A View through the Fog   by Bob McGee, which reached #212 in biographies of artists, architects, and photographers and #384 in coping with suicide guilt. (This book was in on the top 100 list nearly every month through January 2025 and often since.) Book description: A View through the Fog  is compelling, poignant, and packed with both moving and hilarious anecdotes. All human life (and death) is here. With his own distinct voice, McGee opens the door on the dizzying world of the Golden Gate Bridge-the beauty of both nature and the bridge itself, the camaraderie and friction with colleagues, and the devastating tragedies of suicide jumpers. He brings an entire community to the page with a thought-provoking and richly detailed memoir that will resonate with many readers. The motive for his writing this book is love of his subject. He paints this world he knows in a way that gives readers the feeling they are on the Bridge with him. From...

  The Human Curiosity Behind Every Book Readers don’t just read books — they read people . They want to know who the author is, what shaped them, what they believe, and how their mind works. Even when a book’s topic is timeless, the author’s identity becomes part of the story. This is especially true when an author is known professionally for something entirely different. A lay‑audience book written by someone with a strong professional reputation becomes a kind of window into the person behind the expertise. Readers lean in. They want to see the human side, the unexpected side, the side that isn’t defined by credentials or job titles. It’s the same impulse that makes people read articles about how politicians brush their teeth or what CEOs eat for breakfast. The details aren’t important — the person is. Readers are endlessly curious about the lives behind the words. For authors, this is a reminder: your presence matters as much as your content. People follow people, not just...

  Today's shared blog post comes from Franki Bagdade, author of the award-winning book,  I Love My Kids, But I Don't Always Like Them . This week, Franki writes  My Mission- a Story of a ADHDpreneur!  In it, she talks as well about a topic that many experience but rarely address: "I love myself but I don't always like ME." Post worth reading! For more posts by and about Franki, click  HERE . Book Description: Selected as Independent Authors' Network Book of the Year as the Outstanding Parenting Book and winner of the Literary Titan Gold Award, I Love My Kids, But I Don't Always Like Them, is the ultimate survival guide for parents living through one of the strangest times in history. This " how to guide" will support you even if you are exhausted and burnt out in improving your child(ren)'s behavior. Written by an expert with 20 years of experience in behavioral observation in the classroom, in overnight camp, and more. Franki's storytell...