MSI Press Blog

  California entered the Great Depression with unique advantages and unique vulnerabilities. The state was far less industrialized than much of the eastern United States, but it depended heavily on agriculture, construction, shipping, and migration-driven growth. When the national economy collapsed after the stock market crash of 1929, Californians experienced hardship alongside the rest of the nation, yet the state's story unfolded in distinctive ways. California became both a place of suffering and a destination of hope, drawing hundreds of thousands of people who believed they might find a better future on the Pacific Coast. The Crash Reaches the Golden State The Great Depression did not arrive overnight. During the prosperous 1920s, California's cities expanded rapidly. Los Angeles was growing into a major metropolitan center, Hollywood was becoming the heart of the film industry, and agricultural production in the Central Valley was booming. Many people assumed the prosper...

Marriage often begins with intense feelings of romance, novelty, and discovery. Two people spend hours talking, sharing dreams, learning each other's preferences, and enjoying the excitement of a new relationship. Yet many couples discover that, over time, intimacy seems to fade. This can be discouraging, especially when partners mistakenly assume that declining intimacy means declining love. In reality, the causes are often more complex and more manageable than they appear. One reason intimacy diminishes is familiarity. Human beings are naturally drawn to novelty. In the early stages of a relationship, every conversation reveals something new. Over the years, however, partners may come to believe they already know everything there is to know about one another. Curiosity declines. Conversations become focused on daily logistics rather than personal growth, dreams, fears, or aspirations. The relationship can gradually shift from discovery to routine. The pressures of adult life also...

  Intentional Love by Kris Girrell , Abraham Gonzalez , and Bruce Girrell reached #53 on Amazon's hot new releases list. Amazon paperback Amazon ebook Barnes & Noble MSI Press webstore (25% discount with coupon code FF25) Book Description Intentional Love sets out a counter argument to the long-held narrative that both sex and intimacy decline over the years of a long-term committed relationship. But rather than focusing simply of the sexual skills and educating readers on technique, this book identifies twelve separate Ways of Being that when followed create the context and foundation for a deeper shared connection between lovers. The authors draw heavily on research on how these Ways of Being support both members and identify issues to be dealt with in the context of loving relationships. Though the authors are all men, they present a plethora of research from women researchers and authors to balance their own experiences as leaders and trainers in men’s work and then se...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately by Boris Shekhtman, which reached #31 in study and teaching references . the successful practices of diplomats and international journalists now available to any language learner Book description: This is the fifth edition of a popular book that provides a unique set of tools designed to enhance an individual's success in communicati0n in a foreign language environment. The devices presented allow the speaker of a foreign language to demonstrate the level of his/her language more impressively, so impressively, in fact, that it appears that the speaker's language itself has improved overnight. These techniques were developed and tested by the author with adult professionals in such varied fields as journalism, diplomacy, government, and international business. Many of these professionals have attested to the efficacy of these tools in their own columns. "This book provides the most bang...

  Children who grow up in abusive homes often develop complex relationships with one another. While outsiders sometimes imagine that siblings will naturally become each other's closest allies, the reality is more complicated. Abuse creates an environment of chronic fear, uncertainty, and emotional scarcity. Children adapt in different ways, and those adaptations can either draw siblings together or drive them apart. In some families, siblings form powerful protective bonds. Older children may take on caregiving roles far beyond their years, shielding younger brothers and sisters from harm, comforting them after frightening episodes, or attempting to create moments of normalcy amid chaos. Researchers sometimes refer to this as "parentification," where a child assumes responsibilities that properly belong to adults. Such children often become fiercely protective of their siblings and may continue carrying those responsibilities well into adulthood. In other abusive homes, h...