Most of the site is designed to be of interest to readers of my books and articles, U3A & WEA students, former undergraduate and postgraduate students.
The most useful is probably a page devoted to the Poole University of the Third Age Philosophy Workshop. We are now once more meeting in person in homes in Parkstone / Canford Cliffs.
Other features are pages Remembering the life of Sue Tansey and one on Free Attractions in Dorset.
Also covered are my textbooks:
For courses on Politics and Philosophy available in Dorset and Bournemouth/Christchurch/ Poole and a record of current and previous courses and lectures I have taught see under COURSES & LECTURES .
The principal author of Politics: the Basics and Business, IT and Society is now retired and resident in Sturminster Marshall, near Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England.
For most of my academic career I taught Politics at Bournemouth University and its predecessors - Bournemouth College of Technology, Dorset Institute of Higher Education and Bournemouth Polytechnic. Before that I lectured at the University of Ife, Nigeria - now known as Obafemi Awolowo University - for three years. I have also held part-time or temporary Politics posts at the University of Exeter, the Open University and the WEA. I am proud to have been one of the pioneer tutors for the Open University along with my wife, Sue. Currently I co-ordinate a Philosophy Workshop and from time to time have taught Politics and Philosophy courses at the University of the Third Age. In my career I have also taught Information Technology, Business Studies, Sociology and Liberal Studies!
Somehow I have accumulated degrees in Government (B.A. Exeter); Politics and Sociology (M.Sc. Birkbeck College, London University); Information Systems and Technology (M.Sc. City University, London) and Management (M. Phil. Bath University of Technology). Therefore I should be knowledgeable, if not wise! Other people have accumulated more degrees - Robert Mugabe apparently had at least six earned degrees: he also was not necessarily wise.
The best thing I ever did was to marry Susan Rider, to whom I was married for 52 years. There is a page on this site remembering her mainly in the words of our children and friends. (In life she modestly vetoed any mention of her on this site - but now I am responding to a request from my children that she should figure on the web).
If any of this strikes a nostalgic note, or if you have queries about the books, please feel free to get in touch.
With acknowledgements to Essential Comics
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If you have not already done so, you must apply now to Poole U3A admin for membership to join us in 2021/2. Apply online or download the form from the Poole U3A website (also available from Poole Libraries or me). Please check the draft programme for next term and let me know if there are any problems | ||
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More Changes to U3A Poole Philosophy Workshop schedule are on this site - the latest substantial change was on 20th. September. The schedule is subject to amendment and is often revised. We are currently discussing discussing a series of podcasts from the Philosophy Bites website. Please check on this site to ensure you have the latest version. We are now meeting once more mainly in person in each other's homes (but with some participation over Zoom). Let Steve know if you wish to participate via Zoom. Please let the designated host know that you are coming to each session, so appropriate preparations can be made. You should be double vaccinated and, of course, not attend if you feel in any way unwell - or have been 'pinged' or otherwise told to isolate. | ||
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According to the Good Reads website, there are two Persian editions of Politics: the Basics - they were not authorised by us and hence we cannot say how accurate they are! | ||
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Politics the Basics was sixth on Amazon's list of Government and Politics References Best Sellers on 4th November 2020. | ||
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A Turkish Edition of Politics the Basics (5th. ed.) is to be published by Utopya Yayinevi. | ||
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A Portuguese translation of Politics: the Basics has now been published in Brazil as Polίtica, Editora Saraiva, Sao Paulo, 1st Brazilian ed., 2016.
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The Fifth Edition of Politics: the Basics was published by Routledge in September 2014. Nigel has updated the book and has made some interesting innovations. If you run a class which might use the book, let us know using the feedback button on this site and we will arrange to send you a free inspection copy. | ||
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The fourth edition of Politics: the Basics has been published in Arabic by the Arab Network for Publishing and Research based in Beirut, Lebanon. | ||
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Politics: The Basics, 4th Edition is to be translated by Jiangsu People's Publishing Ltd into Chinese (simplified) for distribution in Mainland China. | ||
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Conservative MP Steve Baker puts Politics: the Basics first on his recommended reading list for newcomers to the Conservative Candidates List. | ||
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"Politics, Political Theory, Political Philosophy" Thinking Philosophy (U3A Philosophy Network), Summer 2010, 11-14 | ||