Lisa Bennett

In the 21st century, the rapid advance of technology and the existential threat of climate breakdown mean the real world increasingly resembles something out of fiction, filled with ambiguity and uncertainty. Such challenges need imaginative, creative solutions. To find them, teams of experts must pool their knowledge, make new connections, and forge paths forward. In Story Thinking, award-winning authors Helen Marshall, Kim Wilkins, and Lisa Bennett show how the principles of science fiction and fantasy writing – which speculate about and imagine different futures, people, and worlds - can enrich research in such areas as government policy, technology innovation, and healthcare within universities and various industries. When transferred to research, story thinking as a method can help to build teams with a shared sense of purpose, offer new patterns of thought for improvisation, rapid perspective shifts, worldbuilding, pleasure and playfulness. Split into two parts - conceptualizing story thinking and story thinking as it has been employed in the field - Marshall, Wilkins and Bennett bring together theories of creativity from business, psychology, futures studies, gaming, and medicine among others, with 4 key practices from SFF storytelling – envisioning, engaging, inhabiting, and empathizing. They then provide practical tools for collaborative problem solving alongside case studies of their own successful applications of Story Thinking in various fields, including defense innovation and future scenario modelling with world governments; developing empathy and enhancing well-being in medical education; designing gaming and simulation tools for researchers; and futureproofing digital identity technologies with the UNHCR, the agency responsible for protecting and aiding refugees Showing how writing can be adapted for new and exciting contexts, Story Thinking bridges the gap between the humanities and outside fields and lays the foundations for more creative approaches that more deeply engage in the process of making a better future.

In the 21st century, the rapid advance of technology and the existential threat of climate breakdown mean the real world increasingly resembles something out of fiction, filled with ambiguity and uncertainty. Such challenges need imaginative, creative solutions. To find them, teams of experts must pool their knowledge, make new connections, and forge paths forward. In Story Thinking, award-winning authors Helen Marshall, Kim Wilkins, and Lisa Bennett show how the principles of science fiction and fantasy writing – which speculate about and imagine different futures, people, and worlds - can enrich research in such areas as government policy, technology innovation, and healthcare within universities and various industries. When transferred to research, story thinking as a method can help to build teams with a shared sense of purpose, offer new patterns of thought for improvisation, rapid perspective shifts, worldbuilding, pleasure and playfulness. Split into two parts - conceptualizing story thinking and story thinking as it has been employed in the field - Marshall, Wilkins and Bennett bring together theories of creativity from business, psychology, futures studies, gaming, and medicine among others, with 4 key practices from SFF storytelling – envisioning, engaging, inhabiting, and empathizing. They then provide practical tools for collaborative problem solving alongside case studies of their own successful applications of Story Thinking in various fields, including defense innovation and future scenario modelling with world governments; developing empathy and enhancing well-being in medical education; designing gaming and simulation tools for researchers; and futureproofing digital identity technologies with the UNHCR, the agency responsible for protecting and aiding refugees. Showing how writing can be adapted for new and exciting contexts, Story Thinking bridges the gap between the humanities and outside fields and lays the foundations for more creative approaches that more deeply engage in the process of making a better future.

As Mikey is born and grows up, his eyes go through a lot of changes He discovers all the ways he can use his eyes-for bonding with his family, learning to crawl, and reaching that toy he wants. At age 3, his parents take him to the optometrist to check his eyesight, and ensure he is always ready for adventure But will his trip to the eye doctor be successful?My Eyes and Me: Growing to Three is engaging, entertaining, and fun for parents and children to read together. Written by Dr. Lisa Bennett, this book explains how the main character, Mikey, sees the world, how his eyes develop as he grows up, and how important it is to have a optometric examination for children ages 3 and up. My Eyes and Me: Growing to Three emphasizes the importance of bringing children to optometry offices for routine exams. Surprisingly, this is an issue, despite the statistic that one in four children have a problem seeing. Since 1996, author Dr. Lisa Bennett has been involved in efforts to increase the number of children receiving full eye exams-the same exam that adults receive. The screening at the pediatrician's office does not examine the entire visual system. To help remove vision impairment as a barrier to learning, she has spent many years going to elementary and junior high schools to give exams and now she has written this delightful and educational book.

While the term 'bestseller' explicitly relates books to sales, commercially successful books are also products of individual creative work. This Element presents a new perspective on the relationship between art and the market, with particular reference to bestselling writers and books. We examine some existing perspectives on art's relationship to the marketplace to trouble persistent binaries that see the two in opposition; we break down the monolith of the marketplace by thinking of it as made up of a range of invested, non-hostile participants such as publishing personnel and readers; we articulate the material dimensions of creative writing in the industry through the words of bestselling writers themselves; and we examine how the existence of bestselling books and writers in the world of letters bears enormous influence on the industry, and on the practice of other writers.

"The Infinite Wisdom of the Akashic Records" is an extraordinary book filled with unparalleled tools for transformation. Accessing the Akashic Records is one of the most powerful paths to self-awareness and personal change currently available. Lisa carefully and lovingly guides you through the Akashic Knowing Wisdom Prayer System, a five-step system with three vibrational keys to directly and easily access your Akashic Record. You will also become skilled at: The art of formulating questions to receive life-enhancing answers.Releasing karma, soul contracts, and vows that bind you to negative life patterns.Gaining clarity about personal situations by practicing exercises.Learning new healing tools from the Akashic Lords to assist you in further releasing old issues and aligning with your life purpose. Author Lisa Barnett has gathered all her most successful techniques, strategies, shortcuts, and wisdom into this one book so you can do it yourself--anytime, anywhere.

A new integration of Goleman's emotional, social, and ecological intelligence Hopeful, eloquent, and bold, Ecoliterate offers inspiring stories, practical guidance, and an exciting new model of education that builds - in vitally important ways - on the success of social and emotional learning by addressing today's most important ecological issues. This book shares stories of pioneering educators, students, and activists engaged in issues related to food, water, oil, and coal in communities from the mountains of Appalachia to a small village in the Arctic; the deserts of New Mexico to the coast of New Orleans; and the streets of Oakland, California to the hills of South Carolina. Ecoliterate marks a rich collaboration between Daniel Goleman and the Center for Ecoliteracy, an organization best known for its pioneering work with school gardens, school lunches, and integrating ecological principles and sustainability into school curricula. For nearly twenty years the Center has worked with schools and organizations in more than 400 communities across the United States and numerous other countries. Ecoliterate also presents five core practices of emotionally and socially engaged ecoliteracy and a professional development guide.