Wherever you are in the world and whatever you’re interested in, our ‘Books of the month’ features a broad sample of different recent releases authored by University of Liverpool staff. From architecture to business, photography to tourism, there’s something for everyone.
The University of Liverpool Library has curated a reading list for Book of the Month which is available and searchable for University of Liverpool staff and students. The newest titles are added at the top of the list for visibility and further information can be found in the notes area.
If you are a member of UoL staff and would like your new or recent (2023 or 2024) publication to be featured, please email the details to the Research Communications Team at rescomms@liverpool.ac.uk.
The Palgrave Handbook on the Economics of Manipulation in Sport
Latest edition
Editors: Markus Breuer, David Forrest
Ian McHale (Sports analytics chapter)
Published: 2024
This updated and expanded new edition explores how sport is manipulated for economic and political gain. Manipulation in sport takes many forms and carefully selected chapters detail the broad variety of ways this can take place. The different types of manipulation in sport are outlined, including doping, match-fixing, and breaking Financial Fair Play, to provide a foundation to the topic. The role of legal interventions, in particular the Court of Arbitration for Sport, is discussed, alongside the governance of sports organisations and the corruption of sporting organisations, to highlight how sport can be exploited by tainted political regimes. New chapters looking at whistleblowing, sportwashing, e-sports, and horseracing broaden the scope of the book and explore recent debates.
This book aims to examine manipulation in sport through the lens of economics, bringing light to the various ways benefits can be gained from rule and regulation breaches. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in sports economics and sport governance.
David Forrest is a Professor of Economics
Ian McHale is a Professor of Sports Analytics
University of Liverpool School of Management in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Neolithic Tombs of Wales
NEW EDITION
Published: 2024
Provides an up-to-date account of the Neolithic period in Wales, through a detailed exploration of its chambered tombs and monuments. The author identifies that at least 250 such sites were in use in Wales over a 2,000-year period from 4000 to 2000 BCE. Following recent site analysis, this book presents the latest knowledge and understanding of monument construction, burial practices and rites during this period.
Describing over 100 Neolithic burial-ritual sites throughout Wales that have significant remains, this book divides the country into eight areas and examines the various regional architectural styles used to venerate and house their dead. The author describes the five different styles of chambered tombs – Portal Dolmens, the Cotswold-Severn Tradition, Passage Graves, Gallery Graves and Earth-Fast monuments – and why these different styles developed in the way and locations they did.
Richly illustrated with photographs, drawings and maps, this important and thought-provoking book provides startling insights and greater understanding of these enigmatic and spiritual sites.
Dr George Nash is an Honorary Researcher within the department of archaeology, classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool. Dr Nash has directed excavations at many Neolithic burial-ritual monuments and is the author of numerous books on Neolithic and prehistoric and contemporary rock art.
AI-assisted architectural design
Generative form-finding methods by using artificial intelligence
Author: Asterios Agkathidis
Published: 2024
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are currently making a dynamic appearance in the architectural realm. Social media are being bombarded by word-to-image/image-to-image/word-to-3D/image-to-3D illustrations of fictive buildings generated by 2D or 3D AI algorithms. However, these “designs”, while visually appealing, have initiated a debate about their substance and the impact they have on conventional design methods. This book investigates the integration of generative ai-assisted methods into architectural design education and practice, its influence on design aesthetics, and its potential to enhance creativity and critical thinking in the architectural community.
The book highlights the advantages and challenges of the utilisation of AI image generator tools in the architectural design process. It includes 10-12 hands-on case studies on how AI can contribute to a creative design process as well as handbook instructions on how to utilise AI in order to achieve the required results.
Asterios Agkathidis is a University of Liverpool Senior Lecturer in Architecture in School of the Arts, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.