An Apology for Idlers and Other EssaysJustifying his rejection of an established profession, in 1877 Stevenson offered An Apology for Idlers."A happy man or woman", he reasoned, "is a better thing to find than a five-pound note. He or she is a radiating focus of goodwill" and a practical demonstration of "the great Theorem of the Liveableness of Life". So that if they cannot be happy in the "handicap race for sixpenny pieces", let them take their...

The Curse of Demagogues: Lessons Learned from the Presidency of Donald J. Trump is a collection of 32 essays by 22 writers that make the case that the pathway back to a healthy American democracy is for citizens to understand demagogues and defend against them.More than any other book in print, The Curse of Demagogues makes the story of Donald Trump's rise to the White House coherent and understandable. Trump, a demagogue, gained ascendancy in a laissez-faire poli...

In 1957 Sputnik launched toward the stars. President Kennedy then announced that the United States would send men to the Moon and then return them to Earth.These pivotal moments sparked an unequaled bound forward in human innovation and scientific exploration.At the heart of this momentous time were the men and women working behind the scenes. Scientists, historians, and astronomers share their memories and contributions from this unparalleled era in essays told in their own words....

The Metamorphosis is a novella by German author Franz Kafka, first published in 1915. It is one of Kafka's greatest works, both dark and accessible at the same time.The protagonist, Gregor Samsa, wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a "monstrous vermin". He initially considers the transformation to be temporary and slowly ponders the consequences of this metamorphosis. Unable to get up and leave the bed, Gregor reflects on his job as a traveling salesman and cloth ...

"In war novels authors typically feature ships such as destroyers, battleships, or aircraft carriers, but not support vessels. By focusing on the support vessels, Parotti provides listeners with a different view of the two wars and leaves them with an appreciation for the crafts' significance along with the men who took care of these damaged ships." —National Maritime Historical SocietyAssigned to US Navy Rescue Tug, the ATR-3X, not long after the German surrender ...

Bringing together a wealth of experience from sixty-plus distinguished global thought leaders, How to Create Innovation is a comprehensive guide to becoming a leader in innovation and an organization that plays to win, containing all of the working methods, separate business innovation models, and processes you need to transform your organization digitally.Written by Stefan F. Dieffenbacher, founder of an international award-winning consulting agency, the book draws upon D...

A memoir of a childhood homesteading in frontier Colorado: "A book from the heart . . . the stuff of the American dream" (The New York Times).In this memoir of a lost America, Hal Borland tells the story of his family's migration to eastern Colorado as homesteaders at the turn of the twentieth century. On an unsettled and unwelcoming prairie landscape, the Borlands build a house, plant crops, and eke out a meager existence. While life is difficult—and self...

The domed US Capitol Building is recognized around the world as America's most iconic symbol, the forum for representative democracy, and the physical stage for the transfer of executive power. As the United States grew in size and complexity, the Capitol was built, rebuilt, enlarged, and extended many times under the direction of the few who have served as Architect of the Capitol. This official heads the agency dedicated to preserving and upgrading this magnificent structure, and all the...

When a detective second-guesses his gut, he'll have to get creative to catch the killer.Luca worries cancer and divorce have dulled his razor-sharp instincts. So the detective is relieved when his next murder case seems like a no-brainer.When the wealthy victim is found dead in her private-island home, the gold-digging husband seems like the obvious killer.As Luca digs deeper and follows the clues, however, he uncovers a whole new line-up of possible suspects. No lo...

The Human Element is for anyone who wants to introduce a new idea or innovation into the world. Most marketers, innovators, executives, and activists operate on a deep assumption. It is the belief that the best way to convince people to embrace a new idea is to heighten the appeal of the idea itself. We instinctively believe that if we add enough value, people will eventually say "yes." This reflex leads us down a path of adding features and benefits to our ideas or increasing the...

Great leaders create teams and companies that don't need great leaders.That idea might stop you cold. Good.Exhausted. Overwhelmed. You're the hero of your organization . . . and its biggest bottleneck. Every decision waits for your approval. Every problem lands on your desk. The harder you work, the more your team needs you. The behaviors that made you successful—solving problems fast, always being available, leading from the front—have become your organiza...

Celebrating thirty years as a classic in its field and recommended by therapists worldwide, The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook is an unparalleled, essential resource for people struggling with anxiety and phobias.Living with anxiety, panic disorders, or phobias can make you feel like you aren't in control of your life. Tackle the fears that hold you back with this go-to guide. Packed with the most effective skills for assessing and treating anxiety, this evid...