Showing titles in History & Culture

Uncover the fascinating microhistory of an everyday mineral that silently engineered the rise and fall of global empires. Perfect for your daily commute or a deep-focus learning session, this immersive historical journey reveals how a biological craving drove human evolution. Discover the hidden...

Eswar Prasad explains the world of finance is at the threshold of major disruption that will affect corporations, bankers, states, and indeed all of us. The transformation of money will fundamentally rewrite how ordinary people live. Above all, Prasad foresees the end of physical cash. The driving force won't be phones or credit cards but rather central banks, spurred by the emergence of cryptocurrencies to develop their own, more stable digital currencies.

Nikola Tesla was a major contributor to the electrical revolution that transformed daily life at the turn of the 20th century. His inventions, patents, and theoretical work formed the basis of modern AC electricity, and contributed to the development of radio and television. Like his competitor Thomas Edison, Tesla was one of America's first celebrity scientists, enjoying the company of New York high society and dazzling the likes of Mark Twain with his electrical demonstrations. An astute self-promoter and gifted showman, he cultivated a public image of the eccentric genius.

'Amazingly well researched, fabulously informative and an awful lot of fun. If you love Japanese culture or are just curious to know more I can't recommend this book highly enough' Jonathan Ross 'A nerd- and generalist-friendly look at how Japan shaped the post-World War II world, from toys to...

This text provides a compelling narrative world history through the lens of food and farmers. Tracing the world history of agriculture from earliest times to the present, Isett and Miller argue that people rather than markets have been the primary agents of agricultural change, exploring the actions taken by individuals and groups over time.

A playful and provocative exploration of mighty Wikipedia: how it was built, why it thrived, and what we lose as its ideals disintegrate. One of the keystone inventions of the twenty-first century, Wikipedia is the largest repository of human knowledge ever made, with editions in 343 languages...

Renowned ethicist provides essential guide to successfully navigating the future AI landscape In Building a God, Christopher DiCarlo explores the profound implications of artificial intelligence surpassing human intelligence—a destiny that seems not just possible, but inevitable. At this...

La muerte de Steve Jobs ha conmocionado al mundo. Tras entrevistarlo en más de cuarenta ocasiones en los últimos dos años, además de a un centenar de personas de su entorno, familiares, amigos, adversarios y colegas, Walter Isaacson nos presenta la única biografía escrita con la colaboración de Jobs, el retrato definitivo de uno de los iconos indiscutibles de nuestro tiempo, la crónica de la agitada vida y abrasiva personalidad del genio cuya creatividad, energía y afán de perfeccionismo revolucionaron seis industrias.

'Masterful . . . [Thompson] illuminates both the fascinating coders and the bewildering technological forces that are transforming the world in which we live.' David Grann, author of The Lost City of Z Facebook’s algorithms shaping the news. Uber’s cars flocking the streets. Revolution on...

Coexisting with AI: Work, Love, and Play in a Changing World is an exploration of how AI can be used at each stage of our lives. It helps listeners understand the positive impact of AI and where governance is needed from both an individual and business perspective. From childhood through to aging, this book delivers a holistic understanding of this exciting new technology in language that anyone can understand regardless of technical expertise.

Master Artificial Intelligence in no time, even if you're a total beginner or a tech novice with our essential guide — Empower your career and simplify your daily life! Does the world of AI and machine learning seem intimidating, complex, or out of reach? Are you interested in diving into the realm of AI but have no idea where to start? Are you overwhelmed by endless information and complex terminologies that seem to make AI learning more challenging? You're not alone!

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Soonish by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith, read by Kelly Weinersmith and Joseph May. What will the world of tomorrow be like? How does progress happen? And why don't we have a lunar colony already? In this witty and entertaining book, Kelly and Zach...

Transform chaotic software architecture and project management into flawless execution with applied systems engineering. Whether you are untangling a stalled transportation initiative or leading an infrastructure overhaul, this empowering audio experience brings clarity to massive technical...

Orwell, Huxley, and Bradbury all saw failings in the way society was evolving. We read their books, watched the movies, and considered them to be great entertainment, but we are now at a crucial point where signs from their dystopian worlds are already visible in the real world, and we appear to be happily heading towards something darker. A compelling and unsettling read, both passionate and well-informed, that explores the challenges facing society, business, and education as we adapt to an AI-driven world.

Master industrial automation and ladder logic from scratch to confidently troubleshoot any factory floor. Whether you are commuting to your first job as a maintenance technician or upskilling for a career shift, this empowering audio experience breaks down complex systems. You will step into the...

This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice. The spreadsheet let accountants model their finances without a programmer, and the smartphone put a capable computer in nearly every pocket. Now artificial intelligence is quietly performing another shift, and most people still type a question, read an...

A thrilling history of how we fell in and out of love with a technology that changed not just the world, but changed us. 'Forces you to see the world with new eyes . . . I loved it!' – Alice Loxton, author of Eighteen and Eleanor 'Science and technology never seem more exciting than when James...

Not Gay thrusts deep into a world where straight guy-on-guy action is not a myth but a reality: There's fraternity and military hazing rituals, where new recruits are made to grab each other's penises and stick fingers up their fellow members' anuses; online personal ads, where straight men seek other straight men to masturbate with; and, last but not least, the long and clandestine history of straight men frequenting public restrooms for sexual encounters with other men.

You've tried AI. You typed a prompt, got a generic response you'd never show your boss, and spent more time fixing the output than it would have taken to do the work yourself. The problem isn't the technology, and it isn't you. The problem is simple: this technology is advancing so fast that nobody taught you how to communicate with AI at the level your work demands. Most AI books hand you prompt lists that expire or offer beginner content you could find for free online, instead of teaching you how to "speak machine." The Prompt Hero Method is different.

"The most important book on AI this year." --The Guardian "Mr. Russell's exciting book goes deep, while sparkling with dry witticisms." --The Wall Street Journal "The most important book I have read in quite some time" (Daniel Kahneman); "A must-read" (Max Tegmark); "The book we've all been...