Contemporary Sport Management introduces the field of sport management by explaining how sport organizations are planned, led, marketed, financed, and governed. The book demonstrates that managing sport involves more than organizing athletic events—it requires knowledge of business, leadership, law, marketing, finance, communication, and ethics.

The introduction explains that the sport industry is one of the world’s fastest-growing economic sectors, encompassing professional and amateur sports, collegiate athletics, community recreation, fitness organizations, sporting events, media, and sport-related businesses. Effective sport managers must balance organizational goals with the interests of athletes, fans, sponsors, governments, and communities.

Corrections in the 21st Century introduces the role of corrections as a fundamental component of the criminal justice system. The book explains how correctional institutions and community-based programs seek to protect public safety, enforce legal sanctions, rehabilitate offenders, and support their successful reintegration into society. It emphasizes that modern corrections balance punishment, accountability, and opportunities for rehabilitation.

The introduction describes corrections as a dynamic field shaped by changing laws, public policy, research, technology, and social attitudes. It examines the challenges faced by correctional agencies, including prison overcrowding, offender rehabilitation, recidivism, mental health, substance abuse, and the need to ensure safety while respecting legal and human rights.

Tourism is a major social, economic, cultural, and environmental activity. Critical Debates in Tourism examines tourism from a critical perspective, asking important questions about its benefits, problems, impacts, and future development.

Rather than presenting tourism as simply positive or negative, the book brings together different scholars to debate controversial issues in tourism

The introduction to International Economics explains why countries trade with one another and how international economic relationships affect businesses, consumers, governments, and economies.

The book is broadly divided into international trade and international finance/open-economy macroeconomics.

Main ideas:

• International trade: Countries exchange goods and services because they differ in resources, technology, productivity, and costs.
• Comparative advantage: Even when one country is more productive in everything, countries can still benefit from specializing in what they produce relatively efficiently and trading with others.
• Gains from trade: International trade can increase the variety of goods available and allow countries to use their resources more efficiently.
• Trade policy: Governments sometimes restrict or influence trade through tariffs, import quotas, export subsidies, and other policies.
• Exchange rates: International economics also examines how currencies are valued and how changes in exchange rates affect trade and the economy.

The introduction explains the concept of a “death march” project—a software development project that begins with unrealistic demands, such as impossible deadlines, insufficient budgets, or inadequate resources. The author describes how these projects have become common in the software industry due to intense competition, rapid technological change, organizational pressure, and ambitious business goals. The introduction highlights that while such projects may aim for extraordinary results, they often create serious challenges for project managers and team members, including stress, reduced quality, and increased risk of failure. The book aims to help professionals recognize these situations, understand why they occur, and develop strategies to manage them more effectively while protecting project outcomes and team well-being.

The book introduces Learning and Development (L&D) as an important part of Human Resource Management. It explains how organisations can help employees and groups learn new knowledge and skills, improve their performance, and support organisational objectives.

The authors explain that L&D has changed significantly over time. It is no longer limited to traditional classroom training. Changes in technology, the workplace, globalisation and the way organisations operate mean that employees can learn through many different methods, including technology-supported and workplace learning.

The introduction explains that business leadership requires more than technical knowledge. Successful leaders need a broad range of transferable skills, including communication, critical thinking, teamwork, decision-making, negotiation, self-management, and leadership. The editors emphasize that postgraduate education should prepare students not only to gain academic knowledge but also to develop professional capabilities that employers value. The book combines theory with practical application to help readers strengthen their leadership skills, improve professional effectiveness, and support continuing professional development (CPD). It also introduces the structure of the book, which covers postgraduate study skills, personal effectiveness, coaching, communication, financial awareness, leadership, problem-solving, and project management.

Dimensions of Leisure for Life introduces leisure as an important part of human life that contributes to health, happiness, personal growth, and community well-being. The book explains that leisure is more than simply free time—it includes meaningful activities, experiences, and choices that enhance quality of life and promote physical, emotional, intellectual, and social development.

The introduction emphasizes that leisure affects both individuals and society. It explores how recreation, sport, tourism, outdoor activities, arts, and hobbies help people build relationships, reduce stress, develop skills, and improve overall well-being. The text also highlights the role of leisure professionals in creating inclusive opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.

The introduction explains the basic structure of an electric power distribution system and prepares the reader for mathematical and computer modeling of distribution networks.

1. What is a distribution system?

A distribution system is the part of the electric power system that delivers electrical energy to customers.

The basic path is:

Generating station → Transmission system → Distribution substation → Distribution feeders → Consumers

2. Distribution substations

A distribution substation connects the higher-voltage power system to the local distribution network. It reduces voltage to levels appropriate for distribution feeders and customers.

3. Radial feeders

A radial feeder is a distribution circuit supplied from one source, normally a substation.

Power generally flows:

Dryden’s Handbook of Individual Therapy introduces the field of individual therapy by examining the major approaches used by counsellors, psychotherapists, and other helping professionals. The book presents therapy as a process in which trained practitioners help individuals understand their thoughts, emotions, behaviours, relationships, and life challenges.

The introduction emphasizes that individual therapy has developed through many different theoretical traditions, each offering its own explanation of human difficulties and its own methods for supporting change. Rather than presenting one approach as universally correct, the book explores the diversity of therapeutic models and encourages readers to understand their principles, applications, strengths, and limitations.