Books published by publisher Mason Crest Publishers

Regardless of who we are, we all make mistakes. We yearn for a chance to start over, to right our wrongs, and to create a better future by improving upon our pasts. Several religious holidays around the world are devoted to this very task. These holidays are called days of repentance or days of atonement. Atonement is the act of acknowledging one's sins and asking them to be forgiven. This is done through a process of repentance, or the act of expressing sorrow for one's sins, and penance, a form of suffering one puts upon him- or herself to make up for previous misdeeds. This book focuses on the observation of Lent in the Christian tradition, the Jewish observance of Yom Kippur, and Vassa, the Buddhist practice also known as the Rains Retreat or Buddhist Lent. The Christian, Jewish, and Buddhist days of atonement vary greatly in beliefs and customs across different regions, but each has the ultimate goal of the practitioners bettering themselves through prayer, humility, and repentance. Each title in this series contains color photos and illustrations throughout, and back matter including: an index and further resource lists for books and online resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions-building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers

"According to current statistics, about 40 million Americans currently live in poverty. These individuals face many challenges, from an inability to afford food and shelter to greater health problems due to lack of proper care and nutrition. The US government provides a variety of programs to help the poorest Americans. Yet people are divided on the best ways to address this social problem. The merits and drawbacks of various approaches are discussed in this book." -- Back cover.

Julio Jones has quickly risen to the top of the league as one of the best wide receivers to ever pay the game. Jones was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the 6th overall pick in 2011 in a draft that produced one of the richest talent pools in recent NFL history including Cam Newton, Von Miller, A.J. Green, and two of the best cornerbacks in the league, Richard Sherman and Patrick Peterson. Having played in the 2010 BCS National Championship game for the University of Alabama, Jones also had the opportunity to compete for a league championship in the NFL, making it to Super Bowl LI in 2017 with his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Although his team lost in a thrilling matchup against the New England Patriots, Julio Jones displayed all the attributes of a champion and is destined for greatness as his NFL Career progresses. Julio Jones has used his celebrity to become a spokesperson for causes that he believes in, such as social justice and first amendment rights. A seemingly soft-spoken person, Jones invites little by way of personal controversy as he seeks to be thoughtful in his actions and let his play on the gridiron speak volumes for his character and the type of person he has become. Each book in the Gridiron Greats series takes a close-up look at some of the very best of todays pro football stars. Statistical leaders and championship winners go under the spotlight in a fun to read and visually interesting examination of the players outstanding career.

North American Indians are not merely a historical topic. Instead, today's Native Americans are living, productive members of North American society. The contributions of the various Indian cultures enrich our lives in countless ways. For instance, "Indians have the strongest sense of place of anyone in the world," says Amy Mossett, a Native scholar (quoted in the New York Times). This sense of place is reflected in American Indians' connection to the Earth, an intimate relationship that has concrete implications for the way we handle environmental issues. Indians' connection to the traditions of their ancestors is also strong. At the same time, however, Native Americans are modern people confronting the challenges of today's world. They gain strength for the present from their deep foundations in the past. What's more, Native traditions and wisdom have much to offer us all. North American Indians Today portrays contemporary Indians within the present-day context of their relationship to their land, their past, their traditions, and their 21-st century realities. The heritage and history of each tribe is given as background to chapters on the current government, society, culture, religion, contributions, challenges, and goals of each tribe. Each volume was written with the help of Native people, and tribal leaders and scholars reviewed and approved the text for their tribes. The series consultant, a Native American expert from the University of Nebraska, ensured that the text is free from cultural bias. This series' respectful and accurate text, as well as the color photographs and Native artwork, will give readers a broader understanding of today's North American Indians, theirconnection to their land and their past, and their contributions to our modern-day world.

At the turn of the 20th Century, the automobile (then called the horseless carriage) had been around for about a decade. But just being able to get from one place to another without a horse wasn't enough for many drivers. Humans had discovered speed and we loved what it felt like. Faster and faster cars were being produced and car races were becoming popular. The exotic car, luxury car, supercar, and extreme car all began on the early raceways of Europe and America. This is the story of both the earliest fast and stylish cars and the cars of today that are changing the way all automobiles are powered, made and driven. From Rolls-Royce to the Inferno Exotic Car, discover what it takes to turn heads and upend perceptions. Each book in The World of Automobiles series takes a close-up look at the most interesting aspects of the cars we love. Who makes them, how we love to trick them out, the craziest cars of them all, and trucks too...its all here. So, jump in, get behind the wheel and put the pedal to the floor! Each title in this series contains color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden

This is an enthusiastic survey of Ansel Adams' varied career--from commercial photographer to avant-garde modernist and finally standard-bearer of pure photography. His well-known photographs of America's national parks--featured in this volume--are remarkable for their timeless celebration of the nation's unblemished landscape. Ansel Adams was an artist and conservationist, a visionary and pragmatist. The extraordinary work of Ansel Adams--artist and conservationist, visionary and pragmatist--is a permanent record of America's wild beauty achieved by a man whose own nature was as immutable as the earth he loved.

With just a high school diploma or GED you can start a successful and satisfying career. Each year almost one-third of American high school graduates go directly into the workforceeither because college is too expensive or real-life experience is the more appealing way to get ahead. The Careers in Demand for High School Graduates series profiles jobs you can land right out of high school and explains how to use them to build a fulfilling career. Chapters include a questionnaire to see whether the job is right for you, a description of a typical day on the job, an interview with someone working in the field, information about salary potential, advice on how to move up, and much more. Each volume in the series is based on one of the U.S. Department of Labors career clusters, introducing readers to some of the most in-demand careers in each field.