Books in the Reflections series in order

Engelsk udgave af Tillid i serien TænkepauserUdlændinge forbløffes over, at man på køreture gennem det danske sommerland støder på ubemandede boder med friske jordbær, sprøde asparges og en lille cigarkasse med byttepenge. Endnu mere forbløffende er det, at bodens ejer om aftenen kan hente en fyldt pengekasse. Stort set alle andre steder i verden ville både jordbær, asparges og penge være væk.Men danskerne er verdensmestre i tillid: Vi stoler på vores statslige skrankepaver og vores pertentlige politi, og vi stiller ubekymret vores børn i ubevogtede barnevogne uden for butikker. Umiddelbart kan det virke tåbeligt og blåøjet med al den danske tillid. Set fra et samfundsmæssigt synspunkt er det dog smart, at vi er så tillidsfulde, for social sammenhængskraft i et samfund er med til at give en god økonomi og en stærk produktionskraft. Så vi er ikke kun tillidsfulde, fordi vi har et velfærdssystem - vi har også et velfærdssystem, fordi vi er tillidsfulde.

Engelsk udgave af Positiv psykologi i serien TænkepauserHvorfor påvirker negative oplevelser - stort set uden undtagelser - os stærkere end positive, når alle foretrækker de positive? Hvorfor oplever mange at miste indflydelse, når de udsættes for ledelse, selvom ledelse, der disengagerer medarbejdere, er dømt til at mislykkes? Hvorfor irriteres vi så ofte over andres svagheder, når intelligent organisering forudsætter, at svaghed gøres irrelevant? Hvorfor oplever mange danskere en blågrå og halvtrist hverdag, når vi objektivt set lever historisk privilegeret - og fra størstedelen af verdens befolknings perspektiv under intet mindre end paradisiske omstændigheder? Hvorfor accepterer vi at blive forstyrret døgnet rundt, når stort set alle livets bedste oplevelser er fordybelse? Hvorfor disciplinerer vi os ofte uden at få en ordentlig begrundelse, når meningsløs selvdisciplin utvetydigt nedbryder vor selvfølelse og karakter? Hvorfor er mange bange for at tage chancer, når det er svært overhovedet at mærke noget, hvis ikke man improviserer? Hvorfor skal man som regel stadig fejle noget, før man kan få hjælp til en samtale med en psykolog, når alle er enige om, at det er både billigere og bedre at forebygge end at behandle?

Love is all around. A romantic cliché? No, a fact of human life. Just ask Anne Marie Pahuus, a Danish philosopher at Aarhus University. Love is essentially the closest, most intense relationships we have, for instance with our partners and children. Its wide range of emotions runs from erotic passion to friendship, from delight to torment. Love can conquer all, and it can bring life-long sorrow. Down through the ages – in a variety of guises ­– love has been the favourite theme of thinkers and artists, as indeed it remains to this day. Engelsk oversættelse af Tænkepausen "Kærlighed".

Suresh Rattan's birth certificate reads "1955". At his age, signs of decline inevitably creep in, but Suresh doesn't feel that old. In fact, he feels twenty years younger. He can even explain why. No wonder: He does research on age and ageing at Aarhus University. Thanks to evolution, we can't imagine ourselves any older than 45. Biologically, we should just give up the ghost once we've raised af few carbon copies of ourselves. But for those of us who want to stick around a little longer, Suresh has devised a formula for eternal life. Let's hope it works.

Farmed for its industriousness and its urge to conquer, this race practises farming and uses chemical weapons. Humans? No, ants! Joachim Offenberg, a myrmecophile researcher at Aarhus University, shares fascinating facts about these tiny creatures - so stealthy and stalwart they even endured a ruthless onslaught from his Uncle Preben, who thinks these cannibals, slave drivers and infiltrators of our homes and gardens derserve no better. But why not domesticate ants and join forces with one fourth of the planet's animal biopass? Prepare to befriend a formidable foe.

Creativity was once seen as the mark of mad geniuses, troubled souls, and avant-garde eccentrics. Today, however, we expect to find the trait thriving in and around us. In Creativity, Jan Løhmann Stephensen provides a historical and contemporary view of creativity and explains why it is not always the answer to every problem. From van Gogh to Springsteen, Løhmann Stephensen explores the creative process of artists to craft a new theory of creativity, one rooted in collectivism and fluidity.

This man has found happiness. His, yours, and mine. Unlike the rest of us, Christian Bjørnskov, happiness researcher at Aarhus University, knows what we mean when we talk about being happy. There is the fleeting kind – like when our team wins, for once. The crucial long-term kind. The kind we find with that special someone or feel when reality surpasses our expectations – until we raise the bar, again. There is even the kind of happiness money can buy, provided we spend it on or with other people. Except our children, who don’t really make us happy until they move out.

How many questions do we ask each day? Why do we ask them in the first place? Do we always ask because we’re trying to learn something? Or are there some questions we don’t expect to have answered – and some questions that simply can’t be answered at all? What do our questions tell us about ourselves? Do they define who we are? Who asked the world’s first question? Can anyone answer all these questions? Is that a stupid question, or is it a really good one? And what does Pia Lauritzen, Aarhus University’s questioner-in-chief, think of all of this?

Danes love sharing, caring and communal singing, Auld Lang Syne, 99 bottles of Carlsberg, and public welfare for all. This sounds too good to be true – and it is. Like every great fairy tale, the model welfare state has a dark side. Carsten Jensen, tax-funded welfare authority at Aarhus University, reveals its soft underbelly, warts and all. Danes love public welfare services, and many would pay even higher taxes to get more – but only more of the services they use. And those who don’t subscribe to the good life, middle-class style? The answer is blowing in the wind.

In Dreams, researcher Melanie Gillespie Rosen explores the biology and psychology behind dreaming. She introduces historical theories from Aristotle to Descartes and evaluates current theories on the purpose of dreams. Dreams may help consolidate memories our brains deem important while clearing out unnecessary ones, and they may reflect anxieties in our subconscious. Gillespie Rosen examines the sleep stages and explains why most of the dreams we remember occur during REM. She even explores why some people dream in color, while others dream in black and white.

In Dreams, researcher Melanie Gillespie Rosen explores the biology and psychology behind dreaming. She introduces historical theories from Aristotle to Descartes and evaluates current theories on the purpose of dreams. Dreams may help consolidate memories our brains deem important while clearing out unnecessary ones, and they may reflect anxieties in our subconscious. Gillespie Rosen examines the sleep stages and explains why most of the dreams we remember occur during REM. She even explores why some people dream in color, while others dream in black and white.

In Sleep, psychologist Christine Parsons lays out the benefits of sleeping for our bodies, minds, and societies. The negative effects of chronic sleep deprivation include correlations with Alzheimer’s disease, relationship problems, and car crashes. Parsons provides helpful tricks, training, and therapy to overcome the most common obstacles to better sleep hygiene. Exploring different sleep styles, she assesses which ones work and which ones don’t—helping lead us to a better night’s rest.

In Brains, scientist Leif Østergaard explores our most complicated and mysterious organ. From the dissection of Einstein’s brain to research on how to map networks of neurons, Østergaard deconstructs the different parts of the brain and provides an engaging overview of its essential functions. Delving into the subconscious, we learn what our brains are doing while we daydream and how neurotransmitters play a role in addiction. In this fascinating book, discover how this enigmatic organ is even more complex than we thought it was.

In Calm, sound and media researcher Iben Have explores how to cultivate a feeling of calm using digital technologies, sound, routines, and mindfulness training. Associate professor Have delves into the science behind human perception and sensory experience to discover that our perceptual experiences are not based on culture alone but rather are rooted in a deeper, shared human phenomenon. By determining the right stimulation zone, scholar Have outlines how we can perform and feel our best, existing mindfully and in the present.

A fascinating collection of merged historic and modern images that reflect the changes in Wallasey through the decades.

A short but engaging look at how to cultivate a sense of calm in our busy world. In Calm, sound and media researcher Iben Have explores how to cultivate a feeling of calm using digital technologies, sound, routines, and mindfulness training, and our own bodies and minds. Professor Have delves into the science behind human perception and sensory experience to discover that our perceptual experiences are not based on culture alone, but are rooted in a deeper, shared human phenomenon. While creativity generally requires calm, our need for peace and quiet varies greatly. Some people need lots of stimulus, whereas others feel most alert in tranquil environments. By determining the right stimulation zone, Professor Have outlines how we can perform and feel our best, existing mindfully and in the present. In Reflections, a series copublished with Denmark's Aarhus University Press, scholars deliver 60-page reflections on key concepts. These books present unique insights on a wide range of topics that entertain and enlighten readers with exciting discoveries and new perspectives.

A short but engaging analysis of why we sleep and how to improve our sleep hygiene. In Sleep, psychologist Christine Parsons lays out the benefits of sleeping for our bodies, minds, and societies. The negative effects of chronic sleep deprivation include correlations with Alzheimer's disease, relationship problems, and car crashes. To combat sleep deprivation, Parsons studies the effects of melatonin and caffeine and the importance of light and the circadian rhythm on the quality of our sleep. She provides helpful tricks, training, and therapy to overcome the most common obstacles to better sleep hygiene. Exploring different sleep styles and choices, Parsons assesses which ones work and which ones don't-helping lead us to a better night's rest. In Reflections, a series copublished with Denmark's Aarhus University Press, scholars deliver 60-page reflections on key concepts. These books present unique insights on a wide range of topics that entertain and enlighten readers with exciting discoveries and new perspectives.

A short but engaging exploration of the brain. In Brains, scientist Leif Ostergaard explores our most complicated and mysterious organ. From the dissection of Einstein's brain to research on how to map networks of neurons, Ostergaard deconstructs the different parts of the brain and provides an engaging overview of its essential functions. He explains how we store information in the synapses of neural networks and how these networks carry commands to our muscles and internal organs and receive sensory input from our skin, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Delving into the subconscious, we learn what our brains are doing while we daydream and how neurotransmitters play a role in addiction. In this fascinating book, Ostergaard reveals how this enigmatic organ is even more complex than we thought it was. In Reflections, a series copublished with Denmark's Aarhus University Press, scholars deliver 60-page reflections on key concepts. These books present unique insights on a wide range of topics that entertain and enlighten readers with exciting discoveries and new perspectives.

Play is not just for kids and the young at heart. Boring grown-ups play too, but we only unleash our imagination with close friends and family. Still, our propensity to play is nothing to be ashamed of, according to Marc Malmdorf Andersen, play aficionado at Aarhus University. In fact, play is a sort of scientific process, and by testing one hair-brained idea after another we not only become better, more creative adults. We can also make love grow, and maybe even save the world. This might not be as crazy as it sounds, and it’s guaranteed to be a barrel of fun.

We love democracy, but few of us can explain this affection. That is probably why dictators can pose as true democrats, and why the subdued can see despotism as the answer to their prayers. But a government of, by and for the people does not always make prudent decisions. It is contentious and unfair, and it cannot magically solve all the world’s problems – although it does keep tyrants at bay. Luckily, Svend-Erik Skaaning, democracy scholar at Aarhus University, is not afraid to speak up: We love democracy because it is less flawed than all other forms of rule

“We are the champions – of the world!” This line from a chart-topping rock ballad could have come from Mette Frisk Jensen, corruption expert at Aarhus University. A constitutional monarchy with a queen of its own, Denmark has long been among the world’s top-five least corrupt countries. Fortunately, kickbacks and pay-offs are not dissolving its social glue, which is more than a lucky blend of trust and democracy. But people might not expect to find Denmark’s way to the top paved by absolute monarchs, wars with Sweden, and even national bankruptcy.

Colchester's history goes back to the Iron Age and the Roman settlement that was for a while the capital of Britain. There are extensive remains of Roman Colchester that can still be seen today, as well as from its medieval and later history, including its Norman castle built on Roman foundations. The wool trade brought prosperity and many buildings date from the Tudor period, but much of today's Colchester dates from its expansion in the nineteenth century. In the years after the Second World War, areas of the town were redeveloped and this has continued in recent years, including its extensive garrison area. Colchester Reflections features an exciting collection of historic and modern pictures that are individually merged to reveal how the area has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures in this book combines a recent colour view of Colchester with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect, readers can see how streets, buildings and everyday life have transformed with the passing of time. Local author Patrick Denney presents this fascinating visual chronicle that ingeniously reflects past and present glimpses of Colchester. This book will be of interest to residents, visitors, local historians and all those with links to the area.

Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland and has been a major port and industrial city since the nineteenth century. Shipbuilding has long been an important industry in the city and the Titanic Quarter, named after its most famous ship, is one of the largest waterfront developments in Europe. In the last two decades the city has become transformed, attracting large numbers of visitors to its cultural heritage. Large areas of the city have been redeveloped but much of it would also be recognisable to previous generations. Belfast Reflections features an exciting collection of historic and modern pictures that are individually merged to reveal how the area has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures in this book combines a recent colour view of Belfast with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect, readers can see how streets, buildings and everyday life have transformed with the passing of time. Local author Aidan Campbell presents this fascinating visual chronicle that ingeniously reflects past and present glimpses of Belfast. This book will be of interest to residents, visitors, local historians and all those with links to the area.

After many years of expansion and redevelopment Bicester has grown and changed considerably from the little Oxfordshire market town that it once was. Some parts of the town appear noticeably different to how they were a few generations ago, and when you look at some photographs of Victorian or pre-war Bicester it seems almost unrecognisable. Amidst all the changes however, some familiar landmarks have remained largely untouched, such as the town's medieval St Edburg's parish church and Market Square. This collection of photographs tries to cover both the changes and the consistencies to show how Bicester has developed and how its character remains. Bicester Reflections features an exciting collection of historic and modern pictures that are individually merged to reveal how the area has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures in this book combines a recent colour view of Bicester with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect, readers can see how streets, buildings and everyday life have transformed with the passing of time. Local author Matthew Hathaway presents this fascinating visual chronicle that ingeniously reflects past and present glimpses of Bicester.

In 1560, Mary of Guise moved the Scottish Court to Leith, a site that is now Parliament Street, off Coalhill. Serving Edinburgh's shipbuilding and repair facilities, in subsequent centuries Leith's port saw the opening of a new Wet Dock, the first of its kind in Scotland. Leith has played a long and prominent role in Scottish history. As the major port serving Edinburgh, it has been the stage on which many significant events have taken place. From housing the Scottish Court to seeing civil war, being the port of call for royal arrivals and becoming its own burgh, Leith has seen it all. Leith Reflections features an exciting collection of historic and modern pictures that are individually merged to reveal how the area has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures in this book combines a recent colour view of Leith with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect, readers can see how streets, buildings, the docks and everyday life have transformed with the passing of time. Local authors Jack Gillon and Fraser Parkinson present this fascinating visual chronicle that ingeniously reflects past and present glimpses of Leith. This book will be of interest to residents, visitors, local historians and all those with links to the area.

The North Devon town of Bideford, situated on the estuary of the River Torridge, has a long and fascinating history as a port. From its quays sailed the first colonising venture to the New World under Sir Richard Grenville. The first Native American to be buried in England lies in its churchyard. The town was home to the Victorian novelist Charles Kingsley, who set his novel Westward Ho! in the area, and its tourism industry went on to develop greatly. Still popular with visitors today, Bideford's narrow streets lead to a tree-lined quay bustling with fishing vessels, cargo and pleasure boats. In this book, writer Peter Christie and photographer Graham Hobbs have chosen a selection of old and new photographs that are individually merged to reveal how Bideford has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures combines a recent colour view with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect, readers have the opportunity to 'step back in time' and discover what life was like for previous generations. This fascinating visual chronicle reflects past and present glimpses of Bideford and will be enjoyed by residents, visitors, local historians and all those with links to the town.