The Writing of Daily Life

This chapter argues that the growing importance of financial documentation in early modernity shaped the form and content of vernacular writing. Focusing on the diary, it traces links between journals and accounts from early Renaissance Florence through seventeenth-century England, showing how notebook culture spread in response to financial pressures. Ultimately, the extension of monetary relations in early capitalist England gave men and women new reasons to record apparently trivial details of their daily lives, which now appeared in lists of expenses, debts, and accounts. The chapter thus contributes to debates about English economic individualism and the origins of realist prose; in addition, it shows how practical documents served as a vector for transmitting financial imperatives to literary history.

Facilitating cultural change in healthcare organisations

The need for cultural change in healthcare organisations is well documented. There is a plethora of evidence to demonstrate the devastating impact of poor workplace culture on staff and patient outcomes. However, balanced against the significant financial pressures and a staffing crisis, cultural change is unlikely to be made a priority, despite the fact that many of the problems faced by organisations are compounded by poor workplace culture. The evidence demonstrates the positive difference cultural change can make, building staff confidence and encouraging innovation which, in turn, will result in greater efficiency and best use of limited funding. This article presents a simple model that may, when combined with other cultural tools, offer organisations a cost-effective and practical way to develop a positive workplace culture.

ATTITUDE TOWARDS LEARNING STYLES AND THINKING STYLES OF MENTAL HEALTH

The number of children reporting mental health problems has increased dramatically in recent years, and the signs are that it will continue to rise further. For most children, their first steps into education will be some of the most challenging times they have faced. Most will be dealing with newfound independence, along with the challenges of balancing their academic work, new financial pressures, and building new social relationships. Children, like anybody else, differ from each other. As children, they differ in their preferred mode of learning, i.e. their preferred modes in gathering and thinking about information. The objective of this study was to examine whether children’s learning styles, thinking styles, and attitudes can be used as predictors of their mental health.

The Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra: Guardian of Symphonic Music

The Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra, founded in 1888, has consistently been rated among the world’s best symphonic orchestras. This chapter describes how the orchestra evolved into a public institution with an adventurous repertoire and international allure. Over the years, the orchestra had to deal with an ageing public and changing audience demands. It describes how growing pressure on subsidizing authorities have made the orchestra increasingly dependent on sponsors and donors. It discusses the artistic leadership of conductors and the commercial strategizing of business managers—the key actors in shaping the institution. It analyses how the institution eventually found a productive way to channel the perennial conflicts into its governance. The chapter shows how a balance was found between financial pressures and artistic demands, preserving this cultural institution in the face of strong headwinds.

September 2020 – The Bridge

The month of September is a challenging time for young people, as they start a new school year. September 2020 will be particularly difficult for many, as they must also deal with the stresses of the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing, as well as the effects of increasing financial pressures on families.