Books by Alison Stewart

This book presents the career narratives of an under-researched group of teachers: immigrant Filipino teachers of English working mainly with young and very young learners in Japan. It provides a nuanced and revealing critique of poststructuralist views of identity and proposes recognition theories as an alternative perspective.

When journalist and author Alison Stewart was confronted with emptying her late parents' overloaded basement, a job that dragged on for months, it got her thinking: How did it come to this? Why do smart, successful people hold on to old Christmas bows, chipped knick-knacks, and books they will likely never reread? Junk details Stewart's three-year investigation into America's stuff. Stewart rides along with junk removal teams like Trash Daddy, Annie Haul, and Junk Vets. She goes backstage at Antiques Roadshow, and learns what makes for compelling junk-based television with the executive producer of Pawn Stars. And she even investigates the growing problem of space junk23,000 pieces of manmade debris orbiting the planet at 17,500 mph, threatening both satellites and human space exploration. But it's not all dire. Readers will also learn that there are creative solutions to America's crushing consumer culture. The author visits with Deron Beal, founder of FreeCyle, an online community of people who would rather give away than throw away their no-longer-needed possessions. She spends a day at a Repair Cafe, where volunteer tinkerers bring new life to broken appliances, toys, and just about anything.Junk is a delightful journey through 250-mile-long yard sales, resale shops, and packrat dens, both human and rodent, that for most readers will look surprisingly familiar.

Realizing Autonomy: Practice and Reflection in Language Education Contexts presents critical practitioner research into innovative approaches to language learner autonomy. Writing about experiences in a range of widely differing contexts, the authors offer fresh insights and perspectives on the challenges and contradictions of learner autonomy.

Genetics, Health Care and Public Policy is an introduction to the new discipline of public health genetics. It brings together the insights of genetic and molecular science as a means of protecting and improving the health of the population. Its scope is wide and requires an understanding of genetics, epidemiology, public health and the principles of ethics, law and the social sciences. This book sets out the basic principles of public health genetics for a wide audience from those providing health care to those involved in establishing policy. The emphasis throughout the text is on providing an accessible introduction to the field. The content moves from the basic concepts, including definitions and history, through chapters on genetics, genetic technology, epidemiology, genetics in medicine, genetics in health services, ethical, legal and social implications, to the implications for health policy. It provides one-stop, introductory coverage of this rapidly developing and multidisciplinary field.