Structured by country, this book explores the evolution of environments from prehistoric times to the present, capturing their unique soul and ambiance. The folksy writing style enhances the experience, reflecting the humor, puns, and poetry inherent to each culture. It offers readers a rich, immersive journey through history and geography, celebrating the diverse characteristics that define different nations.
Exploring the Jewish community in Byzantium, the book delves into their historical privileges, particularly under Roman rule, and the challenges faced during the reign of Theodosius II. Despite restrictions, Jews maintained a significant societal role, navigating power dynamics through alliances with various groups, including the Himyarites and the Khazars. Author Elli Kohen aims to revive the voices of historical figures and chroniclers, highlighting multicultural cooperation and providing a complementary perspective to existing literature on Byzantine Jews.
La Concierge is a diary-like book of fictionalized, life-like figures, around whom revolve other individuals, permanent presences or passersby, engaged in their daily trivial, or not so trivial, activities. It somewhat reminds one of books written by the French author Françoise Sagan, who became an instant success with her triad Bonjour Tristesse, Un Certain Sourire and Aimez-vous Brahms, subtle character novels encompassing young girl diaries, experiences, night scenes of Sorbonne students, endless sequences of dance spots and nightclubs until the wee hours, love triangles and quadrangles.The book is a mini-version of Balzacs or Saroyans Comedie Humaine and Human Comedy. It is a sort of candid camera of the heart and modern mores(more similar to camcorder images). The collection of characters met as they come to pass around the Concierge desk, also reminiscent of XVIIth centurys La Bruyere's Caracteres (Characters). With parading personages from the most attractive and personable to the exquisitely obnoxious, the space around the Concierge desk is a living observation laboratory of psychological images and situations. In this multiplicity of scenarios, somehow similarly to La Bruyeres work, the unifying thread is the master idea to expose the ridiculous and the false which in daily activities, despite their meaninglessness, arouse much passion and controversy.
The narrative offers a vibrant exploration of the Turkish Jews, blending detailed historical accounts with engaging storytelling. Elli Kohen skillfully balances the role of a chronicler and a storyteller, infusing the text with humor while preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Sephardic Jewish community. Through this unique approach, readers gain insight into the experiences and traditions of Turkish Jews throughout history.
Photobiology integrates a wide variety of scientific disciplines. As more people become aware of the many ways light interacts with chemical and biological systems, the need for a concise treatment of photobiology has become more critical. Kohen et al . Have written just such a book, intended both as a textbook and as a reference.The authors begin by providing a brief description of the nature of light, how it affects matter, and the means and methods of measuring it. A major section of the book is devoted to how light influences living systems, including discussions of photosynthesis, bioluminescence, regulatory mechanisms, and visual transduction of light. The last half of the book is devoted to the biomedical aspects of light, including photoimmunology, photoallergic reactions and other forms of light sensitivity, the optical properties of skin, and various ways that light can be used in therapy treatments.Useful to photobiologists as a comprehensive overview, this book should also appeal to biomedical researchers and advanced students of photobiology.