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Magic: The Gathering, considered to be the first collectible trading card game, was conceived by Richard Garfield in 1991 and commercially released by Wizards of the Coast in 1993. Since then, Magic has exerted profound influence on hobbyist board gaming through its distinctive and innovative mechanics and practices of collecting cards from periodic set releases and deckbuilding for competitive play. Originating in the Magic player community, the Commander format became popular for casual play and a more inclusive style of social play. Like games cultures more broadly, Magic has been characterized by oppressions that exclude marginalized people.

Drawing on his research of the player community at his local game store in Brisbane, Australia; interviews with Sheldon Menery and members of the Commander Rules Committee and Advisory Group; and research in the field of game studies, John Banks considers how games like Commander can be approached and played more inclusively. Banks argues that there is an ethical dimension to how players approach inclusion. While not all games or communities embody inclusivity, Commander play has integral practices that exemplify virtuous play: an ethic of play rooted in respect, care, and community. Inclusive Play shows that games such as Commander are culturally significant as they provide opportunity for meaningful inclusive cultural change.

Learn the Secrets of Alabama’s Fascinating Place Names

In Place Names in Alabama, readers embark on a captivating journey through the linguistic and cultural heritage embedded in the state’s geography. This masterful reference work, compiled by a renowned linguist and historian, unveils the origins and meanings of hundreds of towns, rivers, creeks, and landmarks—many rooted in Native American languages, colonial history, and local folklore. From the bustling streets of Tuscaloosa, whose name means “Black Warrior,” to Mobile, rooted in the name of the indigenous Maubila people, this book reveals the deep cultural and linguistic layers that shape Alabama’s identity. Other fascinating examples are Talladega, which traces its name to a Muscogee word meaning “border town” and Opelika, derived from Creek for “large swamp.”

Indian Place Names in Alabama is scholarly yet accessible, ideal for historians, educators, genealogists, and curious readers. It is richly annotated and includes historical maps, archival citations, and linguistic insights. Its etymologies include place names of Indigenous, French, Spanish, and English origin. Whether you're tracing ancestral roots, exploring regional history, or simply intrigued by the names on a map, Indian Place Names in Alabama offers a treasure trove of discovery. 

An hourly guide that follows twenty-four insects as they find food, mates, and safety from predators. 

In this short book, celebrated scientist and award-winning author Erica McAlister leads readers on a worldwide field trip in search of insects. Each chapter of Insect Day introduces a single insect during a single hour, highlighting how twenty-four different species spend their time. 

Early in our day, we meet a cold Arctic bumblebee, basking among poppy flower petals to warm itself. Even when the world around her is very cold, she keeps remarkably warm simply by vibrating. Near midday, there is enough sunlight for the blue-winged helicopter, a damselfly, to navigate the forests for her prey. When our insect spots a spider web, she looks for its creator—one vicious hunter eyeing up another. The giant damselfly reverses away from the web and then launches into an attack, grabbing onto the spider with her forelegs. If successful (many spiders are dropped), she perches while feasting. And then, like the most fastidious of diners, she cleans off any gossamer threads with a good preen. In the dark, the dung beetle also looks to the sky, using the Milky Way to orient itself as it rolls a ball of dung—a future home for its offspring. And, as our day closes, a tiger moth escapes bat hunters by fighting sound with sound—jamming bats’ sonar with ultrasonic clicking noises. 

For each chapter, artist Natalie McIntyre has depicted these insects in stunning illustrations, blending traditional scientific drawing methods with fine art techniques. Working together to narrate and illustrate these unique moments in time, McAlister and McIntyre have created an engaging read that is a perfect way to spend an hour or two—and a true gift for readers, amateur naturalists, and all insect lovers.

Learn What the Experts Know About the “Sport of Kings”

With its fast pace, beautiful animals, high stakes, and colorful pageantry, horseracing easily captures the attention of even first-time viewers. While recognizing horseracing as a fascinating sport, most fans know little about this billion-dollar business. Every racehorse and jockey goes through years of training, horses have natural cycles of conditioning, and each track offers its own challenges. Understanding what goes on behind the scenes will make every race more enjoyable profitable for those who wager.

Insider’s Guide to Horseracing is a quick and informative tour of the sport from the moment a foal is tapped for training and the kinds of equipment a horse wears to how wagering works and the different types of races. Written by an experienced horse industry professional and fully illustrated, this guide explains what to look for, understanding what you see, making sense of racing columns, and ways to make a trip to the track more memorable, such as visiting the saddling paddock. Here a reader will not find complex or magic formulas for picking winners or dry statistics; instead the Insider’s Guide to Horseracing gives readers exact information from an expert that will add to the excitement of racing and will allow readers to make better informed decisions all.

“An excellent book.”—Horse-Races.net

“Landers drew upon his longtime experience in various phases of the horse industry to produce this fan-oriented book, which he says is intended to ‘educate people on the workings of a racetrack and what goes on behind the scenes.’ It was inspired by the many questions he has been asked over the years.”—N.Y. Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association Newsletter

Contents:
1. A brief history of the sport
2. What to look for in a horse
3. How to read track conditions
4. Understanding distance
5. Types of wagering, races, and handicapping
6. The jockey and trainer
7. Ownership
8. Information on major races and racetracks in North America

Scholars have studied international organizations (IOs) in many disciplines, thus generating important theoretical developments. Yet a proper assessment and a broad discussion of the methods used to research these organizations are lacking. Which methods are being used to study IOs and in what ways? Do we need a specific methodology applied to the case of IOs? What are the concrete methodological challenges when doing research on IOs? International Organizations and Research Methods: An Introduction compiles an inventory of the methods developed in the study of IOs under the five headings of Observing, Interviewing, Documenting, Measuring, and Combining. It does not reconcile diverging views on the purpose and meaning of IO scholarship, but creates a space for scholars and students embedded in different academic traditions to reflect on methodological choices and the way they impact knowledge production on IOs.

Without a doubt, the teaching of American history has changed since George Billias and Gerald Grob first issued Interpretations of American History, a comprehensive introduction to the major debates and schools of thought within the field of American history. For this ninth edition, Francis G. Couvares has thoroughly updated the text to include both developments in scholarly debate and changes in the format. He has consolidated two chapters on the revolutionary era into one, and he has also merged formerly separate chapters on profit and commerce in the trading of human beings and the complex and resilient culture that enslaved people sustained. Additionally, he has written a completely new chapter on environmental history and updated the final chapters of the text to include recent scholarship that connects the history of the Civil Rights Movement to the Black Lives Matter Movement; scholarship that discusses intersectionality within feminism, and recent work on political realignment and fragmentation.  

In a major revision to the format, Couvares has omitted excerpts of scholarly articles. However, for curious students or research assignments, he includes ample current references. Further, this updated edition anticipates electronic reading of discrete chapters rather than the entire book, and each chapter stands alone well enough to be assigned individually.