Fighting misinformation, all about ballet, and discovering the human face of cancer

Raul Garcia Hemonnet

With the approaching summer vacation period, Rey Juan Carlos University would like to recommend three books on different topics for your upcoming free time.

Navigating the ocean of misinformation and reaching a safe harbor

The book "Guide to Combating Disinformation. Keys to Navigating the Age of Polarization" (Ed. Península) is co-authored by Pablo Berdón, a journalism professor, and Itziar Reguero Sanz, a professor at the University of Valladolid.

This work is presented as a practical guide to combating disinformation. In it, the reader will find the "keys to identifying hoaxes, understanding the mechanisms underlying disinformation, and critically navigating a complex media ecosystem," as stated by the publisher.

The work represents a new contribution, in this case, from a "toolbox" perspective for understanding disinformation and its mechanisms, "an omnipresent enemy that undermines public trust, fuels polarization, and jeopardizes social coexistence. In recent years, it has become a powerful tool for shaping perceptions, influencing democratic elections, and fueling hate speech." It is also worth noting that, although it is highly relevant today, "disinformation is not a new phenomenon; history is replete with examples of information manipulation for political, economic, and social ends; but in our era, the speed and scope with which it spreads are dizzying," as can be read in the synopsis.

In short, this is a guide that can help readers ask themselves, in an increasingly technological world, "how we can balance progress with ethics and responsibility, since the future will depend on our ability to legislate, educate, and promote a culture of transparency and critical thinking."

All the secrets of classical ballet

In 'Teaching and Practicing Classical Ballet' (Ed. Dykinson), Art History professor Patricia Bonnin and Ballet Mistress Marta Bosch have produced a work "designed to meet the needs of both teachers and students. These pages unfold a thorough and rigorous exploration of the principles and techniques that underpin this artistic discipline. Written with a clear and didactic approach, it is designed to facilitate the teaching-learning process of ballet through meticulous structuring." 

The course offers a journey from the most basic concepts to the most advanced techniques, enabling a gradual learning of classical ballet from both a theoretical and practical perspective.

In addition, the work contains a series of high-quality illustrations that add even more information for students and teachers who approach this teaching manual for this art.

The experience of cancer, first-hand

The book "Behind the Coat" (Editorial Universo de Letras) presents a series of testimonies from patients and doctors who have had experiences with cancer, often in their own words. This work aims to break the taboo surrounding the disease and present it from the perspective of women's experiences.

'Behind the Gown' is the work of Dolores Bedmar Cruz, a professor of surgery and a doctor at the Fuenlabrada University Hospital. She notes that in this book, "I aimed to share the experiences of women with different types of tumors, including myself with my lung cancer, and to show their experiences with this disease. The information they give you, the hopes, the fears, the side effects of treatment; in short, things that aren't usually shared, especially in the case of women, because only things about breast cancer are generally discussed, as if we were immune to other cancers."

In short, three interesting recommendations with a variety of topics to read during this Easter holiday.