Ben's bookshelf: read en-US Thu, 15 May 2025 22:23:34 -0700 60 Ben's bookshelf: read 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg The Teller of Small Fortunes 207611551 A wandering fortune teller finds an unexpected family in this warm and wonderful debut fantasy, perfect for readers of Travis Baldree and Sangu Mandanna.

Tao is an immigrant fortune teller, traveling between villages with just her trusty mule for company. She only tells "small" fortunes: whether it will hail next week; which boy the barmaid will kiss; when the cow will calve. She knows from bitter experience that big fortunes come with big consequences…

Even if it’s a lonely life, it’s better than the one she left behind. But a small fortune unexpectedly becomes something more when a (semi) reformed thief and an ex-mercenary recruit her into their desperate search for a lost child. Soon, they’re joined by a baker with a knead for adventure, and—of course—a slightly magical cat.

Tao sets down a new path with companions as big-hearted as her fortunes are small. But as she lowers her walls, the shadows of her past are closing in—and she’ll have to decide whether to risk everything to preserve the family she never thought she could have.]]>
336 Julie Leong 0593815912 Ben 0 to-read 3.81 2024 The Teller of Small Fortunes
author: Julie Leong
name: Ben
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/15
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[The Age of Fentanyl: Ending the Opioid Epidemic]]> 53688662 232 Brodie Ramin 1459746724 Ben 0 5.00 The Age of Fentanyl: Ending the Opioid Epidemic
author: Brodie Ramin
name: Ben
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: currently-reading, china, war, political-science, politics, journalism, government, international-relations
review:

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<![CDATA[Eat the Buddha: The Story of Modern Tibet Through the People of One Town]]> 54755875
Eat the Buddha spans decades of modern Tibetan and Chinese history, as told through the private lives of Demick’s subjects, among them a princess whose family is wiped out during the Cultural Revolution, a young Tibetan nomad who becomes radicalized in the storied monastery of Kirti, an upwardly mobile entrepreneur who falls in love with a Chinese woman, a poet and intellectual who risks everything to voice his resistance, and a Tibetan schoolgirl forced to choose at an early age between her family and the elusive lure of Chinese money. All of them face the same dilemma: Do they resist the Chinese, or do they join them? Do they adhere to Buddhist teachings of compassion and nonviolence, or do they fight?

Illuminating a culture that has long been romanticized by Westerners as deeply spiritual and peaceful, Demick reveals what it is really like to be a Tibetan in the twenty-first century, trying to preserve one’s culture, faith, and language against the depredations of a seemingly unstoppable, technologically all-seeing superpower. Her depiction is nuanced, unvarnished, and at times shocking.]]>
393 Barbara Demick 1783782404 Ben 0 4.37 2020 Eat the Buddha: The Story of Modern Tibet Through the People of One Town
author: Barbara Demick
name: Ben
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: currently-reading, china, international-relations, journalism, abuse, cultural, cultural-studies, political-science, politics, anti-racist, religion, travel, historical, history
review:

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<![CDATA[Sunrise On The Reaping (The Hunger Games)]]> 230268050 420 Suzanne Collins 1761722662 Ben 0 4.56 2025 Sunrise On The Reaping (The Hunger Games)
author: Suzanne Collins
name: Ben
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: currently-reading, dystopia, fantasy, action, science-fiction-fantasy, science-fiction, romance
review:

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Mickey7 (Mickey7, #1) 60735614 Now experience where the hit movie from Academy Award-winning director Bong Joon-ho, starring Robert Pattinson, started in Mickey7 (the inspiration for the film Mickey 17).

Dying isn’t any fun…but at least it’s a living.

Mickey7 is an Expendable: a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there’s a mission that’s too dangerous—even suicidal—the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. After six deaths, Mickey7 understands the terms of his deal…and why it was the only colonial position unfilled when he took it.

On a fairly routine scouting mission, Mickey7 goes missing and is presumed dead. By the time he returns to the colony base, surprisingly helped back by native life, Mickey7’s fate has been sealed. There’s a new clone, Mickey8, reporting for Expendable duties. The idea of duplicate Expendables is universally loathed, and if caught, they will likely be thrown into the recycler for protein.

Mickey7 must keep his double a secret from the rest of the colony. Meanwhile, life on Niflheim is getting worse. The atmosphere is unsuitable for humans, food is in short supply, and terraforming is going poorly. The native species are growing curious about their new neighbors, and that curiosity has Commander Marshall very afraid. Ultimately, the survival of both lifeforms will come down to Mickey7.

That is, if he can just keep from dying for good.]]>
309 Edward Ashton 1786186977 Ben 0 3.80 2022 Mickey7 (Mickey7, #1)
author: Edward Ashton
name: Ben
average rating: 3.80
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: currently-reading, science-fiction, science-fiction-fantasy, space, space-opera, aliens, fantasy
review:

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<![CDATA[Galen's Prophecy: Temperament in Human Nature]]> 52619758 403 Jerome Kagan 0367096161 Ben 0 0.0 1994 Galen's Prophecy: Temperament in Human Nature
author: Jerome Kagan
name: Ben
average rating: 0.0
book published: 1994
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: currently-reading, neuroscience, sociology, education, philosophy, social-science, science, psychology
review:

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Python Distilled 205056810
The richness of modern Python challenges developers at all levels. How can programmers who are new to Python know where to begin without being overwhelmed? How can experienced Python developers know they're coding in a manner that is clear and effective? How does one make the jump from learning about individual features to thinking in Python at a deeper level? Dave Beazley's new Python Distilled addresses these and many other real-world issues.

Focusing on Python 3.6 and higher, this concise handbook focuses on the essential core of the language, with updated code examples to illuminate how Python works and how to structure programs that can be more easily explained, tested, and debugged. Throughout, Beazley reflects all he's learned teaching Python to scientists, engineers, and developers, and pushing the envelope of what makes Python tick.

Rather than trying to cover every possible feature and quirk of a 30-year-old language, this pragmatic guide provides a concise narrative related to fundamental programming topics such as data abstraction, control flow, program structure, functions, objects, and modules--topics that form the foundation for Python projects of any size.]]>
500 David Beazley 0134173406 Ben 0 0.0 Python Distilled
author: David Beazley
name: Ben
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: currently-reading, programming, computer-science, computers, technical, technology, software, coding, reference
review:

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<![CDATA[Python for DevOps: Learn Ruthlessly Effective Automation]]> 49223754 Much has changed in technology over the past decade. Data is hot, the cloud is ubiquitous, and many organizations need some form of automation. Throughout these transformations, Python has become one of the most popular languages in the world. This practical resource shows you how to use Python for everyday Linux systems administration tasks with today’s most useful DevOps tools, including Docker, Kubernetes, and Terraform.

Learning how to interact and automate with Linux is essential for millions of professionals. Python makes it much easier. With this book, you’ll learn how to develop software and solve problems using containers, as well as how to monitor, instrument, load-test, and operationalize your software. Looking for effective ways to "get stuff done" in Python? This is your guide.

Python foundations, including a brief introduction to the language How to automate text, write command-line tools, and automate the filesystem Linux utilities, package management, build systems, monitoring and instrumentation, and automated testing Cloud computing, infrastructure as code, Kubernetes, and serverless Machine learning operations and data engineering from a DevOps perspective Building, deploying, and operationalizing a machine learning project ]]>
508 Noah Gift 1492057657 Ben 0 4.00 Python for DevOps: Learn Ruthlessly Effective Automation
author: Noah Gift
name: Ben
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: currently-reading, computer-science, computers, coding, software, programming, technical, technology, business, reference
review:

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<![CDATA[Learn Python the Hard Way: A Very Simple Introduction to the Terrifyingly Beautiful World of Computers and Code]]> 19049050
The title says it is the hard way to learn to write
code but it’s actually not. It’s the “hard” way only in that it’s the way people used to teach things. In this book you
will do something incredibly simple that all programmers actually do to learn a language:

1. Go through each exercise.
2. Type in each sample exactly.
3. Make it run.

That’s it. This will be very difficult at first, but stick with it. If you go through this book, and do each exercise for
1-2 hours a night, then you’ll have a good foundation for moving on to another book. You might not really learn
“programming” from this book, but you will learn the foundation skills you need to start learning the language.
This book’s job is to teach you the three most basic essential skills that a beginning programmer needs to know:
Reading And Writing, Attention To Detail, Spotting Differences.]]>
618 Zed A. Shaw Ben 0 4.12 2010 Learn Python the Hard Way: A Very Simple Introduction to the Terrifyingly Beautiful World of Computers and Code
author: Zed A. Shaw
name: Ben
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: currently-reading, coding, programming, software, reference, computer-science, computers, technical, technology, textbooks
review:

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ハケンアニメ! 71541687 时间に追われる过酷な现场で、
目の前の仕事に打ち込む仕事人たちが、
追い求めるものはいったい何なのか?
监督?プロデューサー?声优?アニメーターたちが登场。
辻村深月が纺ぎ出す最高に刺激的なお仕事小説。
人気声优の花泽香菜さん、小林ゆうさんも絶賛!


(ストーリー概要)

1クールごとに组む相手を変え、
新タイトルに挑むアニメ制作の现场は、新たな季节を迎えた。
伝説の天才アニメ监督?王子千晴を口説いた
プロデューサー?有科香屋子は、早くも面倒を抱えている???。
同クールには気鋭の监督?斎藤瞳と
敏腕プロデューサー?行城理が手掛ける话题作もオンエアされる。

ファンの心をつかむのは
トウケイ動画「サウンドバック 奏の石」か?
スタジオえっじ「运命戦线リデルライト」か?
今クールも、热き戦いが始まっている――。闭闭>
622 Mizuki Tsujimura 4838771002 Ben 0 1.00 2014 ハケンアニメ!
author: Mizuki Tsujimura
name: Ben
average rating: 1.00
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: currently-reading, manga, comics, graphic-novels, japan, japanese-literature
review:

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<![CDATA[ARE YOU GRATEFUL?: Gratitude Living: Science, Scripture, & Testimonials Confirm Its Power]]> 221959913 Are You Grateful? Gratitude Science, Scripture, and Testimonials Confirm Its Power is an inspiring exploration of how gratitude can transform every facet of your life. Combining the latest research with spiritual insights and moving personal testimonies, this book demonstrates the power of gratitude to uplift your spirit, strengthen your faith, and bring peace to your heart. Through practical guidance and real-world examples, you’ll discover how cultivating gratitude can foster deeper connections with God and the people around you, while also enhancing your physical, emotional, and mental health and overall well-being.

Whether you're searching for spiritual growth, seeking true happiness, inner joy and peace, or seeking a more fulfilling life purpose by becoming more productive and giving for the benefit of others, this book is for you, and will help you unlock the life-changing benefits of gratitude living.

This book comes with our guarantee of satisfaction as it is the updated, rebranded, and relaunched version of a previous title which received multiple global awards and editorial reviews

? A WINNER in the National Indie Excellence Awards
? A FINALIST in the Book Excellence Awards.
? A FINALIST in Christian Inspirational in the International Book Awards.
? A BRONZE MEDAL WINNER in Christian Non-Fiction in the Global
eBook Awards.
? A HENRY AWARD WINNER in Testimonials in the Christian Literary
Awards

This beautifully written book will truly change your mindset on the power and importance of gratitude. I thought the way the author used not only scriptures but science, especially noting the work of Dr. Emmons, was so insightful. Emmons' ARC Model of Gratitude proves the need for all of us to live a daily life of gratitude, and the huge benefits in doing so. We are shown how we can totally transform the substance of our lives by simply changing our mindset and our view of the world…… This would make an excellent gift to anyone who would like to improve their lives on every level. A book to treasure and refer to in times of self-doubt or hardship…Readers’ Favorite]]>
167 Dr. Joyce Addo-Atuah 0960007547 Ben 0 5.00 ARE YOU GRATEFUL?: Gratitude Living: Science, Scripture, & Testimonials Confirm Its Power
author: Dr. Joyce Addo-Atuah
name: Ben
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: currently-reading, netgalley, christian, scripture, science, theology, spirituality, religion
review:

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<![CDATA[Clamor: How Noise Took Over the World and How We Can Take It Back]]> 218569815 An eye- (and ear-) opening investigation into how our ever-noisier world affects our health, our well-being, and our planet

Early-morning jackhammering from construction down the block. The dull roar of jets flying overhead. Your office mates’ phone conversations. We are surrounded by noise, but it is a problem many of us shrug off once the immediate annoyance passes. Yet as science journalist Chris Berdik explains in Clamor, noise can have serious health effects, disrupting our sleep, ratcheting up our stress, and destroying our concentration. As he argues, it is one of the most pervasive yet under-acknowledged pollutants in our daily lives―one that we neglect, both individually and systemically, at our peril

Drawing on extensive research and original reporting, Berdik shows how a too-limited understanding of noise has undermined a century of noise-control efforts and obscured the full toll noise takes on us and on the environment. Chronic exposure to noise that falls below decibel-based thresholds―sometimes even below our conscious awareness―is linked to spikes in the risk of heart disease and other serious health ailments that contribute to premature death. Noisy classrooms hinder developing minds and delay cognitive milestones. In forests and in the depths of the ocean, a cacophony of human-made sound disrupts the natural soundscape, threatening animals’ capacity to communicate, hunt, and flee predators.

Yet in the battle against noise, sound does not have to be our enemy. Berdik introduces us to the researchers, rock stars, architects, and many others finding surprising ways to make our world sound not just less bad but better.]]>
272 Chris Berdik 1324006994 Ben 4 Clamor: How Noise Took Over the World and How We Can Take It Back

I enjoyed this book.

Before I got this book, I knew going in, that noise has a lot of effects to things like concentration, stress, and more. But, this book really opened by eyes (pun intended?) to how far-reaching noise can truly affect lives!

Berdik explains that the effects of noise are not just cognitive too - they can actually affect your body's health - including heart and sleep disturbances to name a few.

I enjoyed Berdik's writing, and his careful research on the topic.

I found it an interesting book, and I am sure you would enjoy it.

I am a big fan of Chris' recommendations in this book, and I found it uplifting.
It is an urgent call to action.

Definitely a must-read for those in city planning, education, and those interested in voicing their rights.

3.8/5]]>
4.62 Clamor: How Noise Took Over the World and How We Can Take It Back
author: Chris Berdik
name: Ben
average rating: 4.62
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/13
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: science, sociology, society, social-justice, cultural, social-science
review:
Clamor: How Noise Took Over the World and How We Can Take It Back

I enjoyed this book.

Before I got this book, I knew going in, that noise has a lot of effects to things like concentration, stress, and more. But, this book really opened by eyes (pun intended?) to how far-reaching noise can truly affect lives!

Berdik explains that the effects of noise are not just cognitive too - they can actually affect your body's health - including heart and sleep disturbances to name a few.

I enjoyed Berdik's writing, and his careful research on the topic.

I found it an interesting book, and I am sure you would enjoy it.

I am a big fan of Chris' recommendations in this book, and I found it uplifting.
It is an urgent call to action.

Definitely a must-read for those in city planning, education, and those interested in voicing their rights.

3.8/5
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<![CDATA[Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History (Maus, #1)]]> 15196
A brutally moving work of art—widely hailed as the greatest graphic novel ever written—Maus recounts the chilling experiences of the author’s father during the Holocaust, with Jews drawn as wide-eyed mice and Nazis as menacing cats.

Maus is a haunting tale within a tale, weaving the author’s account of his tortured relationship with his aging father into an astonishing retelling of one of history's most unspeakable tragedies. It is an unforgettable story of survival and a disarming look at the legacy of trauma.]]>
159 Art Spiegelman 0394541553 Ben 4 4.39 1986 Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History (Maus, #1)
author: Art Spiegelman
name: Ben
average rating: 4.39
book published: 1986
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/12
date added: 2025/05/12
shelves: graphic-novels, comics, historical, history, memoir, holocaust, war, classics
review:

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Vanishing World 219300660 From the author of the bestselling literary sensations Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings comes a surprising and highly imaginative story set in a version of Japan where sex between married couples has vanished and all children are born by artificial insemination.

Sayaka Murata has proven herself to be one of the most exciting chroniclers of the strangeness of society, x-raying our contemporary world to bizarre and troubling effect. Her depictions of a happily unmarried retail worker in Convenience Store Woman and a young woman convinced she is an alien in Earthlings have endeared her to millions of readers worldwide. Vanishing World takes Murata’s universe to a bold new level, imagining an alternative Japan where attitudes to sex and procreation are wildly different to our own.

As a girl, Amane realizes with horror that her parents “copulated” in order to bring her into the world, rather than using artificial insemination, which became the norm in the mid-twentieth century. Amane strives to get away from what she considers an indoctrination in this strange “system” by her mother, but her infatuations with both anime characters and real people have a sexual force that is undeniable. As an adult in an appropriately sexless marriage—sex between married couples is now considered as taboo as incest—Amane and her husband Saku decide to go and live in a mysterious new town called Experiment City or Paradise-Eden, where all children are raised communally, and every person is considered a Mother to all children. Men are beginning to become pregnant using artificial wombs that sit outside of their bodies like balloons, and children are nameless, called only “Kodomo-chan.” Is this the new world that will purify Amane of her strangeness once and for all?]]>
240 Sayaka Murata 0802164668 Ben 3 3.43 2015 Vanishing World
author: Sayaka Murata
name: Ben
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/12
date added: 2025/05/12
shelves:
review:

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Vanishing World 219628892 From the author of the bestselling literary sensations Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings comes a surprising and highly imaginative story set in a version of Japan where sex between married couples has vanished and all children are born by artificial insemination.

Sayaka Murata has proven herself to be one of the most exciting chroniclers of the strangeness of society, x-raying our contemporary world to bizarre and troubling effect. Her depictions of a happily unmarried retail worker in Convenience Store Woman and a young woman convinced she is an alien in Earthlings have endeared her to millions of readers worldwide. Vanishing World takes Murata’s universe to a bold new level, imagining an alternative Japan where attitudes to sex and procreation are wildly different to our own.

As a girl, Amane realizes with horror that her parents “copulated” in order to bring her into the world, rather than using artificial insemination, which became the norm in the mid-twentieth century. Amane strives to get away from what she considers an indoctrination in this strange “system” by her mother, but her infatuations with both anime characters and real people have a sexual force that is undeniable. As an adult in an appropriately sexless marriage—sex between married couples is now considered as taboo as incest—Amane and her husband Saku decide to go and live in a mysterious new town called Experiment City or Paradise-Eden, where all children are raised communally, and every person is considered a Mother to all children. Men are beginning to become pregnant using artificial wombs that sit outside of their bodies like balloons, and children are nameless, called only “Kodomo-chan.” Is this the new world that will purify Amane of her strangeness once and for all?]]>
240 Sayaka Murata 0802164676 Ben 3 3.42 2015 Vanishing World
author: Sayaka Murata
name: Ben
average rating: 3.42
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/12
date added: 2025/05/12
shelves: science-fiction, japan, japanese-literature, dystopia, horror
review:

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<![CDATA[Make it Yourself: 1000 Useful Things to Make]]> 231698742
Categories include everything from Gaming, Computing, Photography, to Hiking & Camping, Cycling, Skateboarding, Furniture, Clothing & Fashion, Gardening & Farming, Home Decor and everything in between.

Different tools and skills are required to make these things, and you can see what type of project each is by looking at the icons at the top left of the listings. These include 3D printing, CNC milling, laser cutting, electronics, woodworking, sewing, metalworking, leatherworking and papercraft, with many of the projects being a mixture of these types.

A good example of the variation inside is in the Hiking and Camping section, where you'll not only see sewing projects for how to make rucksacks, tents, sleeping bags, camping pillows etc, but there are also 3D printing projects for things like tent stakes, rope tensioners, and miscellaneous tools. There are also simple electronic flashlight projects, and easy to make metal camping stoves.

The Maker Tools section at the end of the book is also one of my favorites, and covers a plethora of useful hand tools and machines you can make, in order to make even more things!

If you want to check out a particular project you simply click on one of the illustrations and it will open your browser and go directly to the relevant project websites. The bottom of each page contains further details on each project.]]>
220 NODE Ben 4 4.00 Make it Yourself: 1000 Useful Things to Make
author: NODE
name: Ben
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/12
date added: 2025/05/12
shelves: guidebook, reference, how-to, engineering, technical, technology
review:

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<![CDATA[The Manual: A Philosopher's Guide to Life]]> 34946912 Life's Missing Instruction ManualEpictetus (c. 50-135 CE) was brought as a slave to Rome, where he became a great teacher, deeply influencing the future emperor Marcus Aurelius among many others. His philosophy, Stoicism, was practical, not theoretical--aimed at relieving human suffering here and now.And Epictetus knew suffering. Besides being a former slave, he was lame in one leg and walked with a crutch. After a decade of teaching in Rome, he was banished by Emperor Domitian; undaunted, he established a school in Greece. The Manual is a collection of Epictetus' essential teachings and pithy sayings, compiled by his closet student. It is the most accessible and actionable guide to Stoic philosophy, as relevant today as it was in the Roman Empire.This new edition is rendered in contemporary English, with a foreword, by Sam Torode (based on a translation by Thomas Wentworth Higginson). A companion volume, The An Emperor's Guide to Mastery by Marcus Aurelius, is also available from Ancient Renewal. A revised and further simplified edition of this book is now available, The 21st Century Edition (ASIN B09HP7C1M6). Read the sample pages of each translation to see which you prefer. ]]> 70 Epictetus Ben 5
Short read, but a treasure trove of information on stoicism.

This was such an excellent book.

Timeless classic aphorisms.

I'm very impressed by this book.

Further proof that Epictetus is my favorite philosopher.

Highly recommended for fans of Discourses and Selected Writings

4.9/5]]>
4.38 125 The Manual: A Philosopher's Guide to Life
author: Epictetus
name: Ben
average rating: 4.38
book published: 125
rating: 5
read at: 2021/01/17
date added: 2025/05/11
shelves: philosophy, self-help, psychology, business, spirituality, personal-development
review:
The best philosophy book I've read in months.

Short read, but a treasure trove of information on stoicism.

This was such an excellent book.

Timeless classic aphorisms.

I'm very impressed by this book.

Further proof that Epictetus is my favorite philosopher.

Highly recommended for fans of Discourses and Selected Writings

4.9/5
]]>
<![CDATA[Red Flags: A Reckoning with Communism for the Future of the Left]]> 224294050


Red Flags?traces the path from the 1917 Russian Revolution to the construction of the world’s first AES the USSR. It also looks at the post-revolution societies created along the same lines in China and Cuba. Using the intellectual tools of historical materialism,?Red Flags?argues that they were not in fact moving towards communism because the social relations remained fixed in class exploitation. The workers were never liberated.


At a time of burgeoning anti-communism from both conservatives and liberals, this book is an accessible, vibrant synthesis of the history of communism that draws on the latest research to develop a rigorous analysis of the contradictions and uneasy truths the left needs to confront if it is to build a genuinely liberatory alternative to capitalism.]]>
199 David Camfield 1773637827 Ben 0 to-read 0.0 Red Flags: A Reckoning with Communism for the Future of the Left
author: David Camfield
name: Ben
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/08
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[The Gospel according to God: Rediscovering the Most Remarkable Chapter in the Old Testament]]> 36676112 Written to help readers better understand Jesus's life, death, and ultimate mission, this new book by well-known preacher John MacArthur looks at an important—yet often misunderstood—section of the Bible: Isaiah 53. Often hailed as one of the greatest chapters in the Bible, this passage foretells the crucifixion of Jesus, a critical event in God's ultimate plan for salvation. Explaining the prophetic words of Isaiah 53 verse by verse, MacArthur highlights important connections to the history of Israel and to the New Testament—ultimately showing us how these prophetic words to ancient Israel illuminate essential truths for our lives today.

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226 John F. MacArthur Jr. 143354959X Ben 0 to-read 4.56 The Gospel according to God: Rediscovering the Most Remarkable Chapter in the Old Testament
author: John F. MacArthur Jr.
name: Ben
average rating: 4.56
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/08
shelves: to-read
review:

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The Buffalo Hunter Hunter 214783697 An instant New York Times bestseller, a chilling historical horror novel tracing the life of a vampire who haunts the fields of the Blackfeet reservation looking for justice.

A diary, written in 1912 by a Lutheran pastor is discovered within a wall. What it unveils is a slow massacre, a chain of events that go back to 217 Blackfeet dead in the snow. Told in transcribed interviews by a Blackfeet named Good Stab, who shares the narrative of his peculiar life over a series of confessional visits. This is an American Indian revenge story written by one of the new masters of horror, Stephen Graham Jones.]]>
448 Stephen Graham Jones Ben 0 to-read 4.19 2025 The Buffalo Hunter Hunter
author: Stephen Graham Jones
name: Ben
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/08
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Building Malware with Python: Write your own malware such as ransomware, keyloggers and reverse shells from scratch using the Python programming language (Ethical Hacking with Python)]]> 148749011
Ransomware: We will make a program that can encrypt any file or folder in the system. The encryption key is derived from a password; therefore, we can only give the password when the ransom is paid.Keylogger: We will make a program that can log all the keys pressed by the user and send it via email or report to a file we can retrieve later.Reverse Shell: We will build a program to execute shell commands and send the results back to a remote machine. After that, we will add even more features to the reverse shell, such as taking screenshots, recording the microphone, extracting hardware and system information, and downloading and uploading any file.]]>
71 Abdeladim Fadheli Ben 0 to-read 5.00 Building Malware with Python: Write your own malware such as ransomware, keyloggers and reverse shells from scratch using the Python programming language (Ethical Hacking with Python)
author: Abdeladim Fadheli
name: Ben
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/08
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Information Gathering with Python: Performing DNS enumeration, geolocating IP addresses, advanced port scanning and more (Ethical Hacking with Python)]]> 198190497 Hands-On No more theoretical fluff. This mini-book offers practical, Python-based projects and exercises to help you put theory into action.

Never touched Python before? No worries. We'll start with the basics, making this accessible for newcomers and experts alike.

Comprehensive From extracting domain name information using WHOIS databases to getting your hands dirty with port scanning and enumeration, we've got you covered.

What Will You Learn?Extracting Domain Name Information: Master the WHOIS database, DNS enumeration, and even code your own subdomain enumeration tool using Python's requests library.

Extracting IP Address Geolocation: Utilize the IPinfo service to pinpoint the geographical coordinates of IP addresses in question. Great for assessing potential risks.

Port Scanning and Enumeration: Build not just one but two port scanners—a basic and a threaded one—for quicker and more effective results. Also, get to grips with Python's Nmap tool for deeper insights into your target system.

Whether you're a cybersecurity enthusiast, a Python programmer, or someone with a keen interest in ethical hacking, "Information Gathering with Python" is your go-to guide for practical information gathering techniques.

So, why wait? Get your toolkit ready and embark on this exciting journey into the realm of information security!]]>
32 Abdeladim Fadheli Ben 0 to-read 0.0 Information Gathering with Python: Performing DNS enumeration, geolocating IP addresses, advanced port scanning and more (Ethical Hacking with Python)
author: Abdeladim Fadheli
name: Ben
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/08
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Forensic Investigations with Python: Learn about metadata, browser forensics, steganography, and more (Ethical Hacking with Python)]]> 198191642 Practical Say goodbye to dry, theoretical textbooks. This mini-book is chock-full of hands-on projects that let you apply your newfound skills in real-world scenarios.

Perfect for Beginners and Experts: Whether you're new to Python or a seasoned coder, this book offers a range of topics that will benefit everyone.

Broad Coverage: This isn't just another Python tutorial. You'll explore digital forensics from the ground up, using Python as your tool of choice.

What Will You Learn?Metadata Extraction: Learn how to pull hidden data from PDFs, images, videos, and audio files. You'll be surprised what you can discover!

Browser Forensics: Ever wondered what passwords and cookies are stored in a Chrome browser? You'll find out and learn how to extract them using Python.

Steganography: Hide data in plain sight! Build a Python program to conceal messages or files within images.

MAC Address Spoofing: Learn how to change your MAC address using Python to avoid being blocked by routers and gain unrestricted network access.

Wi-Fi Password Recovery: Ever lose track of your Wi-Fi passwords? This guide will show you how to recover saved Wi-Fi passwords on both Windows and Unix-based systems using Python.

Whether you're a cybersecurity professional, a budding investigator, or someone simply fascinated by the world of digital forensics, this mini-book is your one-stop guide to mastering the art and science of digital investigation.

Grab your digital magnifying glass and join us in unlocking the secrets that lie within the bytes and bits of the digital world!]]>
56 Abdeladim Fadheli Ben 0 to-read 3.00 Forensic Investigations with Python: Learn about metadata, browser forensics, steganography, and more (Ethical Hacking with Python)
author: Abdeladim Fadheli
name: Ben
average rating: 3.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/08
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Rogers v. Rogers: The Battle for Control of Canada's Telecom Empire]]> 201102278
Alexandra Posadzki’s ground-breaking coverage in the Globe and Mail exposed one of the most spectacular boardroom and family dramas in Canadian corporate history—one that has pitted the company’s extraordinarily powerful chairman and controlling shareholder, Edward Rogers, against not only his own management team but also the wishes of his mother and two of his sisters. Hanging in the balance is no less than the pending $20 billion acquisition of Shaw Communications, a historic deal that promises to transform Rogers into the truly national telecom empire that its late founder, Ted Rogers, always envisioned.

Based on deeply sourced, investigative reporting of the iconic $30 billion publicly traded telecom and media giant, Posadzki takes us inside a company that touches the lives of millions of Canadians, challenging what we thought we knew about corporate governance and who really holds the power. Rogers v. Rogers is also a story of family legacy and succession, of an old guard pushing back at the new guard, and of a company struggling to find its footing in the wake of its legendary founder’s death. At the heart of it all is a dispute between warring factions of the family over how they each interpret the desires of the late patriarch and the very identity of the company that bears their name.]]>
416 Alexandra Posadzki 0771003633 Ben 0 to-read 4.05 Rogers v. Rogers: The Battle for Control of Canada's Telecom Empire
author: Alexandra Posadzki
name: Ben
average rating: 4.05
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/05/08
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Untangle Your Emotions: Naming What You Feel and Knowing What to Do About It]]> 157998309
Through personal experience and countless conversations, speaker and Bible teacher Jennie Allen has come to realize that most of us need to unlearn some deeply damaging messages about our emotions. We've been taught, for example, that emotions are untrustworthy when, in fact, they are a gift from God to help us notice what is wrong and where we need to heal.?Your emotions are not something to suppress or ignore. They are meant to be felt, examined, and shared.?

In this transformational look at our inner life through the lens of science and Scripture, Allen shows how, instead of trying to conceal or control our difficult emotions, we can intentionally notice, name, and connect with our feelings in ways that lead to deeper connection and lasting health.]]>
306 Jennie Allen 0593193423 Ben 0 to-read 4.36 2024 Untangle Your Emotions: Naming What You Feel and Knowing What to Do About It
author: Jennie Allen
name: Ben
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/05/08
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Your Story Has a Villain: Identify Spiritual Warfare and Learn How to Defeat the Enemy]]> 210137100
There is an Enemy among us. You may know who he is, but you may not know what he is about. Do you know how he wages war? Do you know how he targets you specifically? He's the Villain who wants to change your story in the hopes you live isolated, powerless, discouraged, and defeated.

Satan has waged a war with the Almighty, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and his sole desire is to keep you from God's goodness. He knows that he has been defeated by Jesus' death and resurrection, but until the final battle when he is cast into hell for eternity, he and his demons roam the earth like a roaring lion looking for anyone to devour. He is far more disruptive to our lives than we realize, and it's time to take action. In Your Story Has a Villain, bestselling author Jonathan "JP" Pokluda will help you:

Stand against the thief of life, who wants to take you out.
Understand the tactics the Enemy utilizes in your life.
Align yourself with God through prayer as you battle each day.
Rely on the truth and power of Scripture to counter the Enemy's lies and accusations.
Know that Jesus has already defeated Satan, so you can live victoriously.

Yes, your story has a villain, an unseen enemy disrupting your life more than you realize. But remember the hero, Jesus Christ, who came so that we may "have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). We know the grim, eternal outcome for Satan and his demons, but the battle still rages. Are you ready to fight back, find freedom from sin and toxic thinking, and walk in the abundant life available to you?]]>
224 Jonathan (JP) Pokluda 1400341175 Ben 5 Your Story Has a Villain: Identify Spiritual Warfare and Learn How to Defeat the Enemy

I absolutely loved this book.

This is quite possibly the best Christian book I have read in a couple years.

Pokluda has a real way of writing, it is engaging, interesting, and his points really hit you.
I couldn't help but to be reminded by the writings of John Mark Comer.

This is also such an uplifting and encouraging read. I felt truly inspired after reading, and I feel it made me really rethink how prevalent the enemy's pulls are to daily life.

I can totally see Pokluda's love for Jesus in his words.
The book is filled with excellent references to scripture, and lots of encouragement throughout.
Although the topic can be quite scary at times, but, Pokluda handles it with such a practical and encouraging way, that you are moved and captivated!

This is an excellent book for new Christians, but I highly recommend it even for veteran Christians as well.

A really powerful read, and I really look forward now to reading more of his books in the future.
In fact, it reminds me that I still have to read Why Do I Do What I Don't Want to Do?: Replace Deadly Vices with Life-Giving Virtues, which has been on my TBR for a while (too long)!

Check this book out

4.9/5]]>
4.62 Your Story Has a Villain: Identify Spiritual Warfare and Learn How to Defeat the Enemy
author: Jonathan (JP) Pokluda
name: Ben
average rating: 4.62
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: christian, netgalley, spirituality, religion, theology, inspirational
review:
Your Story Has a Villain: Identify Spiritual Warfare and Learn How to Defeat the Enemy

I absolutely loved this book.

This is quite possibly the best Christian book I have read in a couple years.

Pokluda has a real way of writing, it is engaging, interesting, and his points really hit you.
I couldn't help but to be reminded by the writings of John Mark Comer.

This is also such an uplifting and encouraging read. I felt truly inspired after reading, and I feel it made me really rethink how prevalent the enemy's pulls are to daily life.

I can totally see Pokluda's love for Jesus in his words.
The book is filled with excellent references to scripture, and lots of encouragement throughout.
Although the topic can be quite scary at times, but, Pokluda handles it with such a practical and encouraging way, that you are moved and captivated!

This is an excellent book for new Christians, but I highly recommend it even for veteran Christians as well.

A really powerful read, and I really look forward now to reading more of his books in the future.
In fact, it reminds me that I still have to read Why Do I Do What I Don't Want to Do?: Replace Deadly Vices with Life-Giving Virtues, which has been on my TBR for a while (too long)!

Check this book out

4.9/5
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<![CDATA[New Explorations in the Lost World of Genesis: Advances in the Origins Debate (The Lost World Series)]]> 217112642 Updating and expanding upon his previous work on origins, this riveting volume from John H. Walton marks the eighth entry in his bestselling Lost World Series, which has sold more than 125,000 copies.

For over a decade, John Walton's books The Lost World of Genesis One and The Lost World of Adam and Eve have shaped readers' understanding of the ancient Near Eastern world and its implications for modern scientific origins debates. But more than simply engaging the creation/evolution debate, these works explored questions related to interpretation of Genesis through ancient eyes, the theological purpose of a seven-day creation account, the historicity of Adam and Eve, and the history of interpretation of the creative narratives.

In New Explorations in the Lost World of Genesis, Walton provides comprehensive and timely updates on the latest developments and research,

a summary of positions addressed in his previous books on originsnew insights, clarifications, and illustrations based on current scholarshipanswers to frequently asked questionsEngaging the latest scholarship as well as questions that his proponents and critics alike have raised, New Explorations in the Lost World of Genesis provides a relevant update that will benefit students, professors, and pastors as they continue to explore questions of origins and their implications for the Christian life.]]>
264 John H. Walton 1514004917 Ben 3 New Explorations in the Lost World of Genesis: Advances in the Origins Debate

I enjoyed this book.

I found it a great way to consume the texts of Genesis, with mindset of the times the Bible was written, and not trying to confuse it by adding in modern debates and arguments from today, but instead examining the book itself.

This being said, I found the book fairly scientific and deeply researched. Although this would appeal to many readers, for me it was just a little too unapproachable / academic. But I still got lots of great ideas and insight from reading it.

I would recommend this book if you are looking for a book to learn more about Genesis, and also about Walton's unique way of doling out theology.

3.4/5]]>
3.50 New Explorations in the Lost World of Genesis: Advances in the Origins Debate (The Lost World Series)
author: John H. Walton
name: Ben
average rating: 3.50
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: netgalley, theology, christian, spirituality, biblical, scripture, religion
review:
New Explorations in the Lost World of Genesis: Advances in the Origins Debate

I enjoyed this book.

I found it a great way to consume the texts of Genesis, with mindset of the times the Bible was written, and not trying to confuse it by adding in modern debates and arguments from today, but instead examining the book itself.

This being said, I found the book fairly scientific and deeply researched. Although this would appeal to many readers, for me it was just a little too unapproachable / academic. But I still got lots of great ideas and insight from reading it.

I would recommend this book if you are looking for a book to learn more about Genesis, and also about Walton's unique way of doling out theology.

3.4/5
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<![CDATA[Murder the Truth: Fear, the First Amendment, and a Secret Campaign to Protect the Powerful]]> 214325852 David Enrich, the?New York Times?Business Investigations Editor and the #1 bestselling author of?Dark Towers, produces his most consequential and far-reaching investigation an in-depth exposé of the broad campaign—orchestrated by elite Americans—to overturn sixty years of Supreme Court precedent, weaponize our speech laws, and silence dissent.

It seemed like a throwaway line in a forgettable In 2019, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas raised the prospect of challenging the legendary Warren Court decision?New York Times?v. Sullivan. Though hardly a household name, Sullivan?is one of the most consequential free speech decisions, ever. Fundamental to the creation of the modern media as we know it,?it?has enabled journalists and writers all over the country—from top national publications to revered local newspapers to independent bloggers—to pursue the truth aggressively and hold the wealthy, powerful, and corrupt to account.

Thomas’s words were a warning—the public awakening of an idea that had been fomenting on the conservative fringe for years. With that opinion, Thomas took mainstream the ongoing, secret efforts of right-wing politicians, activist lawyers, and moneyed elites who had been seeking to overturn?Sullivan?in order to muzzle the media and their critics. From the Florida statehouse to small town New Hampshire to Donald Trump himself, this movement consists of powerful individuals who believe they should be above scrutiny—and are using threats, subterfuge, and legal warfare to get their way.

In this masterwork of investigative reporting, David Enrich,?New York Times?Business Investigations Editor, traces the roots and reach of this new threat to our modern democracy. Laying bare the stakes of losing our most sacrosanct rights, Murder the Truth is a story about power—the way it’s used by those who have it, and the lengths they will go to avoid it being questioned.?


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592 David Enrich 0063433036 Ben 4 4.40 2025 Murder the Truth: Fear, the First Amendment, and a Secret Campaign to Protect the Powerful
author: David Enrich
name: Ben
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: politics, political-science, historical, history, law, journalism, sociology, presidents, leadership, government, anarchism
review:

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<![CDATA[Samurai Revolution: The Dawn of Modern Japan Seen Through the Eyes of the Shogun's Last Samurai]]> 22042822 The Japan Times"]]> 828 Romulus Hillsborough Ben 4 4.24 2014 Samurai Revolution: The Dawn of Modern Japan Seen Through the Eyes of the Shogun's Last Samurai
author: Romulus Hillsborough
name: Ben
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: historical, history, japan, japanese-history, japanese-literature, martial-arts, war, military-history, combat
review:

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<![CDATA[Empathy: Turning Compassion into Action]]> 63849663 The 28th Governor General's most personal and timely book to a passionate and practical guide for turning empathy into action.As the world stumbles through the most severe pandemic of the last century, threatened by teetering economies, torn by political division, separated by unequal access to resources, and wrestling with issues as diverse as racism, gender, cybercrime, and climate change, the nations that best adapt and prosper are those in which empathy is fully alive and widely active. Written for a post-pandemic world, Empathy is a book about learning to be empathetic and then turning that empathy into action. Based on the personal experiences of author David Johnston, the book explores how awakening to the transformative power of listening and caring permanently changes individuals, families, communities, and nations.?A how-to manual for a world craving kindness, Empathy offers proof of the inherent goodness of people, and shows how exercising the instinct for kindness creates societies that are both smart and caring. Through poignant stories and crisp observations, David contends that “Everyone has power over some things that other people don’t. When they learn ways to turn that power into action, they change the future dramatically.” ? With clear and practical focus, Empathy looks at a host of issues that demand our attention, from education and immigration, to healthcare, the law, policing, business ethics, and criminal justice. In each of these areas, Johnston highlights the deeper understandings that have arisen during the COVID-19 crisis, with sharp emphasis on the positive and negative lessons now in crisp focus. Convinced that empathy is the fastest route to peace and progress in all their forms, David ends each short chapter with a set of practical steps the reader can take to make the world better, one deliberate action at a time.??]]> 350 David Johnston 0771049080 Ben 3 3.43 Empathy: Turning Compassion into Action
author: David Johnston
name: Ben
average rating: 3.43
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: government, inspirational, leadership, self-help, philosophy, sociology, social-justice
review:

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<![CDATA[Pension Reform and Economic Theory: A Non-Orthodox Analysis]]> 4050386 384 Sergio Cesaratto 1840643641 Ben 3 3.00 2006 Pension Reform and Economic Theory: A Non-Orthodox Analysis
author: Sergio Cesaratto
name: Ben
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: finance, money, economics, law, reference, textbooks, government, historical, history, theory
review:

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<![CDATA[In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best-Run Companies]]> 19071469 In Search of Excellence has long been a must-have for the boardroom, business school, and bedside table.

Based on a study of forty-three of America's best-run companies from a diverse array of business sectors, In Search of Excellence describes eight basic principles of management -- action-stimulating, people-oriented, profit-maximizing practices -- that made these organizations successful.]]>
404 Thomas J. Peters Ben 3 3.98 1982 In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best-Run Companies
author: Thomas J. Peters
name: Ben
average rating: 3.98
book published: 1982
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: business, management, leadership, self-help, economics, entrepreneurship, personal-development, psychology
review:

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<![CDATA[The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World]]> 25583998 44 Million Words
10 Billion Years Of History
1 Obsessed Man

Part memoir and part education (or lack thereof), "The Know-It-All" chronicles NPR contributor A.J. Jacobs's hilarious, enlightening, and seemingly impossible quest to read the Encyclopaedia Britannica from A to Z.

To fill the ever-widening gaps in his Ivy League education, A.J. Jacobs sets for himself the daunting task of reading all thirty-two volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. His wife, Julie, tells him it's a waste of time, his friends believe he is losing his mind, and his father, a brilliant attorney who had once attempted the same feat and quit somewhere around Borneo, is encouraging but unconvinced.

With self-deprecating wit and a disarming frankness, "The Know-It-All" recounts the unexpected and comically disruptive effects Operation Encyclopedia has on every part of Jacobs's life - from his newly minted marriage to his complicated relationship with his father and the rest of his charmingly eccentric New York family to his day job as an editor at "Esquire." Jacobs's project tests the outer limits of his stamina and forces him to explore the real meaning of intelligence as he endeavours to join Mensa, win a spot on Jeopardy!, and absorb 33,000 pages of learning. On his journey, he stumbles upon some of the strangest, funniest, and most profound facts about every topic under the sun, all while battling fatigue, ridicule, and the paralysing fear that attends his first real-life responsibility - the impending birth of his first child.

"The Know-It-All" is an ingenious, mightily entertaining memoir of one man's intellect, neuroses, and obsessions, and a struggle between the all-consuming quest for factual knowledge and the undeniable gift of hard-won wisdom.]]>
512 A.J. Jacobs Ben 3 2.00 2004 The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World
author: A.J. Jacobs
name: Ben
average rating: 2.00
book published: 2004
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: humor, memoir, biography, historical, history, education, autobiography
review:

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The Unseen Realm 25077593 413 Michael S. Heiser 1577995562 Ben 4 4.45 2015 The Unseen Realm
author: Michael S. Heiser
name: Ben
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: philosophy, historical, history, spirituality, christian, religion, theology
review:

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<![CDATA[At Least Know This: Essential Science to Enhance Your Life]]> 37943154 This primer on essential scientific literacy gives readers the basics to understand themselves and the world around them, plus a glimpse of how much more science has to offer.

Science tells us a good deal about who we are, where we come from, the nature of the universe, how our brains work, and much, much more. Unfortunately, most people are largely unaware of this treasure trove of information. As a result, we are more prone to do things like aim nuclear weapons at each other, inflate the meaning of cultural differences, lay waste to the land, poison and deplete the oceans, fill the sky with carbon, and generally make poor judgments that cause needless trouble.

This book seeks to remedy this situation by providing scientific answers to the most basic yet important questions about existence. Following the standard six-question list used by journalists researching a news story, critical-thinking advocate Guy P. Harrison turns to science to answer the who, what, why, when, where and how of life on Earth.

How old is our planet? Where did it come from and where is it located in the universe? What is everything made of? When did life begin? Who are we as a species and what connections do we share with other life forms? Why is human culture continuously plagued by war, disease, and crime? Harrison not only offers science's best current answers to these crucial questions but shows how all of this information fits together. Going well beyond the simplistic factoids readily available on any smartphone, he reveals the wider implications and deeper meanings inherent in the scientific worldview.

Both entertaining and informative, this exciting tour of the cosmos and human nature will leave readers with an accurate, up-to-date view of realities small and large, near and far.]]>
416 Guy P. Harrison 1633884058 Ben 3 3.91 2018 At Least Know This: Essential Science to Enhance Your Life
author: Guy P. Harrison
name: Ben
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: science, reference, popular-science
review:

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<![CDATA[Kotlin from Scratch: A Project-Based Introduction for the Intrepid Programmer]]> 202074017 Learn to code in Kotlin by starting from scratch and gradually building skills to tackle a wide range of fun and challenging problems.Kotlin is a programming language that combines the best features of Python and Java into a single, easy-to-use language that’s rapidly growing. Though Kotlin is primarily known for Android app development, this book establishes its broader credentials for general-purpose coding—complete with geeky, hands-on projects that will take you from total beginner to proficient Kotlin developer.After learning the basics of the language and integrating the JavaFX library to generate graphics and data visualizations, you’ll apply your knowledge to over?30 math, science, and algorithmic challenges of increasing complexity. You’ll model the motion of a pendulum, simulate the orbits of a binary star system, render enchanting fractals like the Mandelbrot set, implement ant colony optimization and other nature-inspired algorithms, and much more. Beyond the specifics of the Kotlin language, the book’s many projects will teach you how to think methodically and use code to solve problems. You’ll also learn about generally applicable computer science topics such as randomness, recursion,?sorting and searching, genetic algorithms, and optimization.]]> 432 Faisal Islam 1718503520 Ben 4 4.00 Kotlin from Scratch: A Project-Based Introduction for the Intrepid Programmer
author: Faisal Islam
name: Ben
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: coding, programming, software, reference, computer-science, computers, technical, technology
review:

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<![CDATA[Effective Python: 125 Specific Ways to Write Better Python (Effective Software Development Series)]]> 203090928 Master the art of Python programming with 125 actionable best practices to write more efficient, readable, and maintainable code.

?

Python is a versatile and powerful language, but leveraging its full potential requires more than just knowing the syntax. Effective 125 Specific Ways to Write Better Python, 3rd Edition is your comprehensive guide to mastering Python's unique strengths and avoiding its hidden pitfalls. This updated edition builds on the acclaimed second edition, expanding from 90 to 125 best practices that are essential for writing high-quality Python code.

?

Drawing on years of experience at Google, Brett Slatkin offers clear, concise, and practical advice for both new and experienced Python developers. Each item in the book provides insight into the "Pythonic" way of programming, helping you understand how to write code that is not only effective but also elegant and maintainable. Whether you're building web applications, analyzing data, writing automation scripts, or training AI models, this book will equip you with the skills to make a significant impact using Python.

?

Key Features of the 3rd

Expanded Now with 125 actionable guidelines, including 35 entirely new items. Updated Best Reflects the latest features in Python releases up to version 3.13. New Additional chapters on how to build robust programs that achieve high performance. Advanced In-depth coverage of creating C-extension modules and interfacing with native shared libraries. Practical Realistic code examples that illustrate each best practice.]]>
672 Brett Slatkin 0138172188 Ben 5 5.00 Effective Python: 125 Specific Ways to Write Better Python (Effective Software Development Series)
author: Brett Slatkin
name: Ben
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/06
date added: 2025/05/06
shelves: programming, coding, technology, technical, computer-science, computers, software, reference
review:

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William Gibson's Alien 3 44088476 This is the official adaptation of the original screenplay for Alien 3, written by William Gibson, the award-winning science fiction author of the cyberpunk cult classic Neuromancer. You'll see familiar characters and places--but not all is the same in this horrifying Cold War thriller!After the deadly events of the film Aliens, the spaceship Sulaco carrying the sleeping bodies of Ripley, Hicks, Newt, and Bishop are intercepted by the Union of Progressive Peoples. What the U.P.P forces don't expect is another deadly passenger that is about to unleash chaos between two governmental titans intent on developing the ultimate cold war weapon of mass destruction. Collects William Gibson's Alien 3 #1-5.]]> 136 William Gibson 1506708552 Ben 4 Political Prometheus

I liked this more than the Alien3 movie.

This was much more political and "faction"-y than the other Alien books.

It was also much more of a continuation from Aliens than the Alien3 movie.

It did drop a bit in quality around the halfway point, but picked up again for the final quarter.

Definitely an interesting read!

4.1/5]]>
3.50 2018 William Gibson's Alien 3
author: William Gibson
name: Ben
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2022/10/07
date added: 2025/04/30
shelves: film, space, aliens, science-fiction, horror, comics, graphic-novels
review:
Political Prometheus

I liked this more than the Alien3 movie.

This was much more political and "faction"-y than the other Alien books.

It was also much more of a continuation from Aliens than the Alien3 movie.

It did drop a bit in quality around the halfway point, but picked up again for the final quarter.

Definitely an interesting read!

4.1/5
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NEW-TOO MUCH and NEVER ENOUGH 138774033 1000 TRUMP MARY L. Ben 4 4.25 2020 NEW-TOO MUCH and NEVER ENOUGH
author: TRUMP MARY L.
name: Ben
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/28
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: biography, presidents, politics, memoir, historical, history, psychology, autobiography, government, leadership, mental-illness, anarchism
review:

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<![CDATA[The New Cold War: The United States, Russia, and China from Kosovo to Ukraine]]> 104637190


With the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, warnings of a new Cold War proliferated. In fact, argues Gilbert Achcar in this timely new account, the New Cold War has been ongoing since the late 1990s.




Racing to solidify its position as the last remaining superpower, the US alienated Russia and China, pushing them closer and rebooting the ‘old’ Cold War with disastrous implications. Vladimir Putin’s consequent rise and imperialist reinvention, along with Xi Jinping’s own ascendancy and increasingly autocratic tendencies, would culminate, respectively, in the invasion of Ukraine and mounting tensions over Taiwan and trade.




Was all this inevitable? What comes after Ukraine, and what might the contours of a more peaceful world look like? These questions and many others are addressed in this essential book by one of the most seasoned analysts of international relations.


With erudition and sobering analysis, Achcar argues that only by understanding this new landscape can we begin to imagine the contours of an alternative, more peaceful world.]]>
425 Gilbert Achcar 1642599409 Ben 4 4.00 The New Cold War: The United States, Russia, and China from Kosovo to Ukraine
author: Gilbert Achcar
name: Ben
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/28
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: china, espionage, russia, political-science, politics, war, international-relations, military-history, journalism, leadership, government
review:

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<![CDATA[Hiding in Plain Sight: The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America]]> 52274929 From New York Times bestselling author Sarah Kendzior comes the bitingly honest examination of the erosion of American liberty and the calculated rise to power of Donald Trump.

The rise of Donald Trump may have shocked Americans, but it should not have surprised them. His anti-democratic movement is the culmination of a decades-long breakdown of U.S. institutions. The same blindness to U.S. decline – particularly the loss of economic stability for the majority of the population and opportunity-hoarding by the few – is reflected in an unwillingness to accept that authoritarianism can indeed thrive in the so-called “home of the free”.

As Americans struggle to reconcile the gulf between a flagrant aspiring autocrat and the democratic precepts they had been told were sacred and immutable, the inherent fragility of American democracy has been revealed. Hiding in Plain Sight exposes this continual loss of freedom, the rise of consolidated corruption, and the secrets behind a burgeoning autocratic United States that have been hiding in plain sight for decades. In Kendzior’s signature and celebrated style, she expertly outlines Trump’s meteoric rise from the 1980s until today, interlinking key moments of his life with the degradation of the American political system and the continual erosion of our civil liberties by foreign powers.

Kendzior also offers a never-before-seen look at her personal life and her lifelong tendency to be in the wrong place at the wrong time – living in New York through 9/11 and in St. Louis during the Ferguson uprising, and researching media and authoritarianism when Trump emerged using the same tactics as the post-Soviet dictatorships she had long studied.

Hiding in Plain Sight is about confronting injustice – an often agonizing process, but an honest and necessary one – as the only way that offers the possibility of ending it.

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320 Sarah Kendzior Ben 4 4.42 2020 Hiding in Plain Sight: The Invention of Donald Trump and the Erosion of America
author: Sarah Kendzior
name: Ben
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/28
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: anarchism, politics, political-science, government, leadership, historical, history, presidents, biography, crime, true-crime, journalism, criticism
review:

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<![CDATA[Love & Courage: My Story of Family, Resilience, and Overcoming the Unexpected]]> 44584787 From the leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party—Jagmeet Singh—comes a personal and heartfelt story about family and overcoming adversity.In October 2017, Jagmeet Singh was elected as the first visible minority to lead a major federal political party in Canada. The historic milestone was celebrated across the nation. About a month earlier, in the lead up to his election, Jagmeet held community meet-and-greets across Canada. At one such event, a disruptive heckler in the crowd hurled accusations at him. Jagmeet responded by calmly calling for all Canadians to act with “love and courage” in the face of hate. That response immediately went viral, and people across the country began asking, “Who is Jagmeet Singh? And why ‘love and courage’?” This personal and heartfelt memoir is Jagmeet’s answer to that question. In it, we are invited to walk with him through childhood to adulthood as he learns powerful, moving, and sometimes traumatic lessons about hardship, addiction, and the impact of not belonging. We meet his strong family, including his mother, who teaches him that “we are all one; we are all connected,” a valuable lesson that has shaped who he is today. This story is not a political memoir. This is a story of family, love, and courage, and how strengthening the connection between us all is the way to building a better world.]]> 233 Jagmeet Singh Ben 4 4.35 2019 Love & Courage: My Story of Family, Resilience, and Overcoming the Unexpected
author: Jagmeet Singh
name: Ben
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2021/08/21
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: biography, memoir, politics, history
review:

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<![CDATA[Losing True North: Justin Trudeau’s Assault on Canadian Citizenship]]> 30060099
Instead, as author and Sun columnist Candice Malcolm reports in this detailed examination of his earliest decisions, Trudeau has chosen to pursue a cynical political agenda to manipulate Canada’s immigration system.

As authorities in Europe struggle to respond to terror attacks and waves of migration from conflict zones, Trudeau is haphazardly throwing Canada’s doors open to the world.

Why is Trudeau granting Canadian citizenship to a convicted terrorist? Why is he scrapping the language test for many citizenship applicants?

Malcolm puts forward compelling evidence that the prime minister is undermining Canadian values — and doing it for one simple reason: so his Liberal Party can win favour with special interest groups and add to its voting coalition in time for the next election.

With his radical changes to our immigration system, Trudeau is sacrificing Canada’s traditions and advantages. He is putting our economy, our national security and our very way of life at risk.

Trudeau is changing our country – and changing what it means to be Canadian.

Losing True North is a wake-up call to all Canadians.]]>
193 Candice Malcolm Ben 3 3.95 Losing True North: Justin Trudeau’s Assault on Canadian Citizenship
author: Candice Malcolm
name: Ben
average rating: 3.95
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/03/24
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: government, leadership, political-science, politics, china, international-relations, finance, economics, anarchism
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<![CDATA[Promise and Peril: Justin Trudeau in Power]]> 46060958
·???????? the NAFTA negotiations
·???????? the infamous Trump tweets at the G7 summit
·???????? that island vacation
·???????? the SNC-Lavalin affair Promise and Peril is a must-read for all voters before the next election. It examines whether a politician who came to office with immense potential has measured up to expectations—and what is at stake for Canada’s future at home and abroad.]]>
368 Aaron Wherry 1443458279 Ben 3 3.68 Promise and Peril: Justin Trudeau in Power
author: Aaron Wherry
name: Ben
average rating: 3.68
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/03/03
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: journalism, political-science, politics, government, biography, history, international-relations, anarchism
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<![CDATA[House of Mirrors: Justin Trudeau's Foreign Policy]]> 51087802 ?
House of Mirrors outlines how Trudeau’s government has expanded the military while ignoring international efforts to restrict nuclear weapons proliferation. The Liberals, Engler shows, have launched an unprecedented effort to overthrow Venezuela’s government while siding with an assortment of reactionary governments. Flouting their climate commitments, the Trudeau government also failed to follow through on its promise to rein in Canada’s controversial mining sector.
?
With heavily documented analysis, House of Mirrors gives insight into the Liberals’ rhetorical skills that whitewash their pro-corporate and conservative policies with progressive slogans.]]>
204 Yves Engler 1551647516 Ben 3 3.40 House of Mirrors: Justin Trudeau's Foreign Policy
author: Yves Engler
name: Ben
average rating: 3.40
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/03/22
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: government, leadership, political-science, politics, international-relations, anarchism
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Common Ground 23403371
Justin Trudeau has spent his life in the public eye. From the moment he was born, the first son of an iconic prime minister and his young wife, Canadians have witnessed the highs and the lows, sharing in his successes and mourning with him during tragic times. But few beyond Justin’s closest circle have heard his side of his unique journey. Now, in Common Ground, Justin Trudeau reveals how the events of his life have influenced him and formed the ideals that drive him today. He explores, with candour and empathy, the difficulties of his parents’ marriage and the effect it had on a small boy and the close relationship with a father whose exacting standards were second only to his love for his sons. He explores his political coming of age during the tumultuous years of the Charlottetown Accord and the Quebec Referendum, and reflects on his time as a teacher, which was interrupted by the devastating losses of his brother and father. We hear how a connection was forged with a beautiful young woman, Sophie Gregoire, who had known the Trudeaus in earlier days.

Through it all, we come to understand how Justin found his own voice as a young man and began to solidify his understanding of Canada’s strengths and potential as a nation. We hear what drew Justin toward politics and what led to his decision to run for office. Through Justin’s eyes, we see what it was like in those first days of seeking the Liberal nomination for Papineau, when it was just he and Sophie and a clipboard in a grocery store parking lot, and how hard work and determination won him not only the nomination but two hard-fought elections. We learn of his reaction to the considerable Liberal defeat in 2011 and how it clarified his belief that the Liberal Party had lost touch with Canadians—and how that summer he was far from considering a run for the Liberal leadership but contemplating whether to leave politics altogether. And we learn why, in the end, he decided to help rejuvenate the Liberal Party and to run for the leadership and for prime minister. But mostly, Justin shares with readers his belief that Canada is a country made strong by its diversity, not in spite of it, and how our greatest potential lies in finding what unites us, in building on a sense of shared purpose—our common hopes and dreams—and in coming together on common ground.]]>
333 Justin Trudeau Ben 3 3.96 2014 Common Ground
author: Justin Trudeau
name: Ben
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2023/07/12
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: politics, biography, autobiography, memoir, leadership, government
review:

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<![CDATA[Justin Trudeau on the Ropes: Governing in Troubled Times (Sutherland Quarterly, 6)]]> 202760255 The worst decade in the history of the Liberal Party of Canada came to an end on October 19, 2015.

Justin Trudeau swept to power, ending the ten-year rule of Stephen Harper’s Conservatives. Trudeau’s vision was relentlessly the word "positive" was heard eight times in his victory speech, along with references to "sunny ways" and "hope and hard work." But the fates decreed that he would govern in darker times. His rookie government, itself mainly staffed by rookies in federal politics, had to learn on the job in an age of polarization, misinformation, and pandemic, while dealing with the rise of Trump and Brexit, a newly belligerent China, and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. The moment needed more than a young PM's abundant charm. And almost from the outset, Trudeau struggled to rise to the occasion.

A decade after he published The Longer I’m Prime Minister, the definitive portrait of Stephen Harper in power, Paul Wells, one of Canada’s all-time great political writers,?turns his attention to Justin Trudeau, a man of talent, ambition, and trust issues in a time of mistrust.]]>
100 Paul Wells 1990823823 Ben 3 4.06 Justin Trudeau on the Ropes: Governing in Troubled Times (Sutherland Quarterly, 6)
author: Paul Wells
name: Ben
average rating: 4.06
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/09/26
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: true-crime, political-science, politics, journalism, china, government, leadership, international-relations, historical, history
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<![CDATA[The Libranos: What the media won’t tell you about Justin Trudeau’s corruption]]> 53068225 124 Ezra Levant 0995016895 Ben 2 4.47 The Libranos: What the media won’t tell you about Justin Trudeau’s corruption
author: Ezra Levant
name: Ben
average rating: 4.47
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2024/06/11
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: government, china, political-science, politics, leadership, international-relations, social-justice, true-crime, crime, criticism, journalism, anarchism
review:

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Source Code: My Beginnings 213290918 371 Bill Gates 0593801598 Ben 3 4.62 2025 Source Code: My Beginnings
author: Bill Gates
name: Ben
average rating: 4.62
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/28
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: leadership, historical, history, biography, technology, autobiography, business, memoir, autistic-spectrum-disorder, inspirational
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<![CDATA[The Organization of Behavior: A Neuropsychological Theory]]> 8400296 Since its publication in 1949, D.O. Hebb's, The Organization of Behavior has been one of the most influential books in the fields of psychology and neuroscience. However, the original edition has been unavailable since 1966, ensuring that Hebb's comment that a classic normally means "cited but not read" is true in his case. This new edition rectifies a long-standing problem for behavioral neuroscientists--the inability to obtain one of the most cited publications in the field.

The Organization of Behavior played a significant part in stimulating the investigation of the neural foundations of behavior and continues to be inspiring because it provides a general framework for relating behavior to synaptic organization through the dynamics of neural networks.

D.O. Hebb was also the first to examine the mechanisms by which environment and experience can influence brain structure and function, and his ideas formed the basis for work on enriched environments as stimulants for behavioral development.

References to Hebb, the Hebbian cell assembly, the Hebb synapse, and the Hebb rule increase each year. These forceful ideas of 1949 are now applied in engineering, robotics, and computer science, as well as neurophysiology, neuroscience, and psychology--a tribute to Hebb's foresight in developing a foundational neuropsychological theory of the organization of behavior.]]>
450 D.O. Hebb Ben 3 4.00 1949 The Organization of Behavior: A Neuropsychological Theory
author: D.O. Hebb
name: Ben
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1949
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/28
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: psychology, neuroscience, science, brain, biology, artificial-intelligence, sociology, social-science, theory, philosophy
review:

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<![CDATA[Graph Algorithms the Fun Way: Powerful Algorithms Decoded, Not Oversimplified]]> 210455797 Enter the wonderful world of graph algorithms, where you’ll learn when and how to apply these highly useful data structures to solve a wide range of fascinating (and fantastical) computational problems.This book provides a fun and accessible introduction to graph algorithms, commonly used to solve a wide range of computational and mathematical problems. Full of humorous analogies, detailed diagrams, and real-world examples using the Python programming language, Graph Algorithms the Fun Way will show you how graph data structures can model a vast variety of phenomena — from physical mazes to communication networks — while helping you develop a strong foundation for how they work, when to use them, and how to create variants.It starts with the structure of graphs, demonstrating the ways they can represent connections between nodes, such as the best route through a city or how rumors spread in a social network. Each subsequent chapter introduces new graph algorithms along with their underlying concepts and applications — from basic searches to more advanced methods of exploring graphs. You’ll have a blast solving brain-teasers including the 15-square puzzle, matching adopted pets with homes, calculating the maximum flow of a sewage network, traversing magical labyrinths, sorting recipe steps to craft the perfect cookies, and more. You’ll also learn how with weighted and directed graphsUse heuristics to prioritize which paths in a graph to exploreDetermine which components of a graph are key for its structural integrityGenerate random mazesGuided by the bestselling author of Data Structures the Fun Way, this equally fun follow-up will help you build a strong understanding of a crucial coding topic and apply graph algorithms to your own projects.]]> 416 Jeremy Kubica 1718503865 Ben 5 4.00 Graph Algorithms the Fun Way: Powerful Algorithms Decoded, Not Oversimplified
author: Jeremy Kubica
name: Ben
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/28
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: algorithms, business, programming, coding, software, reference, technology, technical, computer-science, computers
review:

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<![CDATA[Learning LangChain: Building AI and LLM Applications with LangChain and LangGraph]]> 227987593


Authors Mayo Oshin and Nuno Campos demystify the use of LangChain through practical insights and in-depth tutorials. Starting with basic concepts, this book shows you step-by-step how to build a production-ready AI agent that uses your data.

Harness the power of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to enhance the accuracy of LLMs using external up-to-date dataDevelop and deploy AI applications that interact intelligently and contextually with usersMake use of the powerful agent architecture with LangGraphIntegrate and manage third-party APIs and tools to extend the functionality of your AI applicationsMonitor, test, and evaluate your AI applications to improve performanceUnderstand the foundations of LLM app development and how they can be used with LangChain]]>
480 Mayo Oshin 1098167244 Ben 4 4.00 Learning LangChain: Building AI and LLM Applications with LangChain and LangGraph
author: Mayo Oshin
name: Ben
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/28
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: artificial-intelligence, algorithms, programming, coding, software, reference, technical, technology, computer-science, computers, business
review:

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<![CDATA[Modern Angular: Also covers signals, standalone, SSR, zoneless, and more]]> 223317843 Discover the new features and techniques of the most modern versions of Angular.

The powerful Angular framework is ever-evolving, with each new iteration bringing amazing new modern features. Modern Angular gets you rapidly up to speed with Angular’s latest innovations.

Inside Modern Angular you’ll learn how

? Create modern Angular apps with the newest framework capabilities
? Setting up and structuring your Angular projects
? Implement advanced testing strategies for Angular
? Benefit from new improvements in debugging, image loading, and component inputs
? Apply state management with reactive programming
? Explore signals and server-side rendering
? Migrate legacy Angular projects to modern practices
? Refactor old Angular patterns using new techniques
? Use modern performance optimization approaches to improve User Experience

Discover new ways of working with components, dependency injection, RxJS, Signals, and more—all through building a complete enterprise-grade HR management system! You’ll soon be improving your daily development with Angular’s quality-of-life features, upgrading your app’s performance with server-side rendering, and getting ready for what’s coming Angular’s future. Plus, detailed migration guides demonstrate ways to update existing apps to modern patterns, and make it easy to modernize your legacy code.

Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF and ePub formats from Manning Publications.

About the technology

Modern web applications have to handle serious challenges, such as complex state management, reactive programming, and SEO. With a host of new features, ecosystem tools, and programming practices, the Angular web framework tackles modern web development head on. If you haven’t tried modern Angular, you’re in for a treat!

About the book

Modern Angular updates your web development skills to take advantage of new Angular features like signals, server-side rendering, and zoneless change detection. Each chapter explores an exciting capability by adding it hands-on to a full-featured app for managing HR systems. Along the way, you’ll explore dependency injection, RxJS, and standalone components, and pick up techniques for upgrading legacy apps.

What's inside

? Advanced testing strategies
? RxJS and custom operators
? Performance and search engine optimization
? Migrate legacy Angular projects

About the reader

For experienced Angular developers. Covers Angular versions 12 and later.

About the author

Armen Vardanyan is a developer, educator, and Google Developer Expert for Angular. He writes articles about Angular, TypeScript, NgRx, and is a panelist for the popular Adventures in Angular podcast.

Table of Contents

1 Welcome to modern Angular
2 A standalone future
3 Revitalized dependency injection
4 New capabilities of Angular building blocks
5 RxJS in modern Angular
6 A new approach to reactive programming
7 A deep dive
8 Unit testing in modern Angular
9 Modern Angular everywhere
10]]>
553 Armen Vardanyan Ben 5 5.00 Modern Angular: Also covers signals, standalone, SSR, zoneless, and more
author: Armen Vardanyan
name: Ben
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/28
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: programming, coding, software, reference, computer-science, computers, technical, technology, web, website-design, design, business, internet
review:

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<![CDATA[Machine Learning System Design: With end-to-end examples]]> 223590249 Get the big picture and the important details with this end-to-end guide for designing highly effective, reliable machine learning systems.

From information gathering to release and maintenance, Machine Learning System Design guides you step-by-step through every stage of the machine learning process. Inside, you’ll find a reliable framework for building, maintaining, and improving machine learning systems at any scale or complexity.

In Machine Learning System With end-to-end examples you will

? The big picture of machine learning system design
? Analyzing a problem space to identify the optimal ML solution
? Ace ML system design interviews
? Selecting appropriate metrics and evaluation criteria
? Prioritizing tasks at different stages of ML system design
? Solving dataset-related problems with data gathering, error analysis, and feature engineering
? Recognizing common pitfalls in ML system development
? Designing ML systems to be lean, maintainable, and extensible over time

Authors Valeri Babushkin and Arseny Kravchenko have filled this unique handbook with campfire stories and personal tips from their own extensive careers. You’ll learn directly from their experience as you consider every facet of a machine learning system, from requirements gathering and data sourcing to deployment and management of the finished system.

About the technology

Designing and delivering a machine learning system is an intricate multistep process that requires many skills and roles. Whether you’re an engineer adding machine learning to an existing application or designing a ML system from the ground up, you need to navigate massive datasets and streams, lock down testing and deployment requirements, and master the unique complexities of putting ML models into production. That’s where this book comes in.

About the book

Machine Learning System Design shows you how to design and deploy a machine learning project from start to finish. You’ll follow a step-by-step framework for designing, implementing, releasing, and maintaining ML systems. As you go, requirement checklists and real-world examples help you prepare to deliver and optimize your own ML systems. You’ll especially love the campfire stories and personal tips, and ML system design interview tips.

What's inside

? Metrics and evaluation criteria
? Solve common dataset problems
? Common pitfalls in ML system development
? ML system design interview tips

About the reader

For readers who know the basics of software engineering and machine learning. Examples in Python.

About the author

Valerii Babushkin is an accomplished data science leader with extensive experience. He currently serves as a Senior Principal at BP. Arseny Kravchenko is a seasoned ML engineer currently working as a Senior Staff Machine Learning Engineer at Instrumental.

Table of Contents

Part 1
1 Essentials of machine learning system design
2 Is there a problem?
3 Preliminary research
4 Design document
Part 2
5 Loss functions and metrics
6 Gathering datasets<]]>
688 Valerii Babuskhin 1638357285 Ben 4 4.50 Machine Learning System Design: With end-to-end examples
author: Valerii Babuskhin
name: Ben
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/28
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: artificial-intelligence, programming, coding, computer-science, computers, design, reference, software, technical, technology, business
review:

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<![CDATA[Learning Modern C++ for Finance: Foundations for Quantitative Programming]]> 221244062
Financial programmers will discover how to leverage C++ abstractions that enable safe implementation of financial models. You’ll also explore how popular open source libraries provide additional weapons for attacking mathematical problems. C++ programmers unfamiliar with financial applications also benefit from this handy guide.

Learn C++ basics from a modern syntax, inheritance, polymorphism, composition, STL containers, and algorithmsDive into newer features and abstractions including functional programming using lambdas, task-based concurrency, and smart pointersImplement basic numerical routines in modern C++Understand best practices for writing clean and efficient code]]>
697 Daniel Hanson 109810076X Ben 4 4.00 Learning Modern C++ for Finance: Foundations for Quantitative Programming
author: Daniel Hanson
name: Ben
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/28
date added: 2025/04/28
shelves: finance, economics, programming, coding, algorithms, technical, technology, computer-science, computers, business, reference, software
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<![CDATA[The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine]]> 214229783 An Instant?New York Times?Bestseller?

A chilling analysis of how Western indecision and apathy made possible the return of brutal Russian expansionism with catastrophic consequences – “A must-read for anyone who wants to understand what went wrong and how it can be fixed” (Serhii Plokhy, Harvard University)

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, six US presidential administrations of both parties pursued policies for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia that emboldened Russia, playing into its imperialist, centuries-long mythos of regional hegemony. The military aggression and full-scale invasion. It was all too foreseeable.
?
In The Folly of Realism, leading national security expert and bestselling author Alexander Vindman argues that America’s mistakes in Eastern Europe result from policymakers’ fixation on immediate, short-term problem-solving and misplaced hopes and fears. He proposes a new long-term, values-based approach that insists on the fundamentals of liberal democracy and a rules-based world order.
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Enlivened by firsthand accounts and behind-the-scenes interviews with leading Washington and international policymakers and culminating in the shocking brutality of Putin’s invasions of Ukraine, the book exposes the follies of western foreign policymaking, sources of the dangerous return of Russian imperialism, and proscribes how it can be contained.


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254 Alexander S. Vindman Ben 0 to-read 4.18 The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine
author: Alexander S. Vindman
name: Ben
average rating: 4.18
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life]]> 22609341
Researchers have spent the last decade trying to develop a “pink pill” for women to function like Viagra does for men. So where is it? Well, for reasons this book makes crystal clear, that pill will never exist—but as a result of the research that’s gone into it, scientists in the last few years have learned more about how women’s sexuality works than we ever thought possible, and Come as You Are explains it all.

The first lesson in this essential, transformative book by Dr. Emily Nagoski is that every woman has her own unique sexuality, like a fingerprint, and that women vary more than men in our anatomy, our sexual response mechanisms, and the way our bodies respond to the sexual world. So we never need to judge ourselves based on others’ experiences. Because women vary, and that’s normal.

Second lesson: sex happens in a context. And all the complications of everyday life influence the context surrounding a woman’s arousal, desire, and orgasm.

Cutting-edge research across multiple disciplines tells us that the most important factor for women in creating and sustaining a fulfilling sex life, is not what you do in bed or how you do it, but how you feel about it. Which means that stress, mood, trust, and body image are not peripheral factors in a woman’s sexual wellbeing; they are central to it. Once you understand these factors, and how to influence them, you can create for yourself better sex and more profound pleasure than you ever thought possible.

And Emily Nagoski can prove it.]]>
400 Emily Nagoski 1476762090 Ben 0 to-read 4.28 2015 Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life
author: Emily Nagoski
name: Ben
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith]]> 123266529 224 Sydney McLaughlin 0785297995 Ben 0 to-read 4.35 Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith
author: Sydney McLaughlin
name: Ben
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity]]> 51979022 A Movement Seeks to Redefine Christianity. Some Think that It Is a Much-Needed Progressive Reformation. Others Believe that It Is an Attack on Historic Christianity.
Alisa Childers never thought she would question her Christian faith. She was raised in a Christian home, where she had seen her mom and dad feed the hungry, clothe the homeless, and love the outcast. She had witnessed God at work and then had dedicated her own life to leading worship, as part of the popular Christian band ZOEgirl. All that was deeply challenged when she met a progressive pastor, who called himself a hopeful agnostic.

Another Gospel? describes the intellectual journey Alisa took over several years as she wrestled with a series of questions that struck at the core of the Christian faith. After everything she had ever believed about God, Jesus, and the Bible had been picked apart, she found herself at the brink of despair . . . until God rescued her, helping her to rebuild her faith, one solid brick at a time.

In a culture of endless questions, you need solid answers. If you or someone you love has encountered the ideas of progressive Christianity and aren't sure how to respond, Alisa's journey will show you how to determine--and rest in--what's unmistakably true.]]>
288 Alisa Childers 1496441737 Ben 0 to-read 4.53 2020 Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity
author: Alisa Childers
name: Ben
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Disposable: America's Contempt for the Underclass]]> 214151713 In a compelling blend of personal narrative and in-depth reporting, New York magazine senior writer Sarah Jones exposes the harsh reality of America’s racial and income inequality and the devastating impact of the pandemic on our nation’s most vulnerable people.

In the tradition of Matthew Desmond’s Evicted and Andrea Elliot’s Invisible Child, Disposable is a poignant exploration of America’s underclass, left vulnerable by systemic racism and capitalism. Here, Sarah Jones delves into the lives of the essential workers, seniors, and people with disabilities who were disproportionately affected by COVID-19—not due to their age or profession, but because of the systemic inequality and poverty that left them exposed.

The pandemic served as a stark revelation of the true state of America, a country where the dream of prosperity is a distant mirage for millions. Jones argues that the pandemic didn’t create these dynamics, but rather revealed the existing social mobility issues and wealth gap that have long plagued the nation. Behind the staggering death toll are stories of lives lost, injustices suffered, and institutions that failed to protect their people.

Jones brings these stories to the forefront, transforming the abstract concept of the pandemic into a deeply personal and political phenomenon. She argues that America has abandoned a sacrificial underclass of millions but insists that another future is possible. By addressing the pervasive issues of racial justice and public policy, Jones calls for a future where no one is seen as disposable again.]]>
304 Sarah Jones 1982197420 Ben 0 to-read 3.53 2025 Disposable: America's Contempt for the Underclass
author: Sarah Jones
name: Ben
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/20
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Subculture Vulture: A Memoir in Six Scenes]]> 145625057
After bottoming out, being institutionalized, and getting sober all by the tender age of fifteen, Moshe Kasher found himself “What’s next?” Over the ensuing decades, he discovered the a lot.

There was his time as a boy-king of Alcoholics Anonymous, a kind of pubescent proselytizer for other teens getting and staying sober. He was a rave promoter turned DJ turned sober ecstasy dealer in San Francisco’s techno warehouse party scene of the 1990s. For fifteen years he worked as a psychedelic security guard at Burning Man, fishing hippies out of hidden chambers they’d constructed to try to sneak into the event. As a child of deaf parents, Kasher became deeply immersed in deaf culture and sign language interpretation, translating everything from end-of-life care to horny deaf clients’ attempts to hire sex workers. He reconnects and tries to make peace with his ultra-Hasidic Jewish upbringing after the death of his father before finally settling into the comedy scene where he now makes his living.

Each of these scenes gets a gonzo historiographical rundown before Kasher enters the narrative and tells the story of the lives he has spent careening from one to the next. A razor-sharp, gut-wrenchingly funny, and surprisingly moving tour of some of the most wildly distinct subcultures a person can experience, Subculture Vulture deftly weaves together memoir and propulsive cultural history. It’s a story of finding your people, over and over again, in different settings, and of knowing without a doubt that wherever you are is where you’re supposed to be.]]>
320 Moshe Kasher 0593231376 Ben 0 to-read 4.10 2024 Subculture Vulture: A Memoir in Six Scenes
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<![CDATA[Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion]]> 210454061 A sharp Christian voice makes a bold when politics are driven by empathy rather than truth, innocent people pay the price.We are told that empathy is the highest virtue—the key to being a good person. Is that true? Or has “empathy,” like so many other words of our day— “tolerance,” “justice,” “acceptance”—been hijacked by bad actors who exploit compassion for their own political ends??In Toxic Empathy, Allie Beth Stuckey argues that empathy has become a tool of manipulation by left-wing activists who bully people into believing that they must adopt progressive positions to be loving. She explores the five most heated issues through which toxic empathy is abortion, gender, sexuality, immigration, and social justice. Progressives use catchy mantras to present their perspective as empathetic, like “abortion is healthcare,” “love is love,” or “no human being is illegal,” but in each case, they ignore the other side of the moral equation. For example, abortion is presented as compassionate for the woman, but what about the human life the procedure kills?This book isn’t about killing empathy; it’s about submitting our empathy to God’s definitions of love, goodness, and justice. Stuckey exposes the?logical pitfalls and moral consequences of toxic empathy, equipping Christians with research-backed, Biblical truths to dismantle the progressive lies that have permeated our culture— and our church.]]> 224 Allie Beth Stuckey 0593541944 Ben 0 to-read 4.33 2024 Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion
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<![CDATA[The Walk of the Spirit - The Walk of Power: The Vital Role of Praying in Tongues]]> 18890064 If you want your life to change, or if you just want to increase your understanding about this phenomenon of praying in tongues, read "The Walk of the Spirit - The Walk of Power."]]> 353 Dave Roberson Ben 0 to-read 4.48 1999 The Walk of the Spirit - The Walk of Power: The Vital Role of Praying in Tongues
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<![CDATA[The Cat Who Saved the Library (The Cat Who..., #2)]]> 216616111 The long-awaited sequel to the #1 international bestseller The Cat Who Saved Books—a delightful and heartwarming celebration of books, libraries, cats, and the people who love them.

A chronic asthma condition prevents thirteen-year-old Nanami from playing sports or spending time with her friends after school. But nothing can stop her from one of her favorite activities. Nanami loves to read and happily spends much of her free time in the school library, cocooned among the stacks.

Then one day, Nanami notices that, despite the library being as deserted as ever, some of her favorite books, including literary classics like Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar and Anne of Green Gables are disappearing from the shelves. When she alerts the library staff, they dismiss her concerns. But just as Nanami is about to return to her reading, she spots a suspicious man in a gray suit. Eager to discover what he’s up to, she follows him. The chase is cut short when Nanami suffers an asthma attack. By the time she catches her breath, the man has disappeared and all that is left behind is a mysterious light filtering through the library’s familiar passageways.

That’s when Tiger, the talking tabby cat who saves books, comes to the rescue.

Are Nanami and Tiger prepared to face the dangerous challenges that lie ahead? Why are faceless gray soldiers burning books in a stone castle? And what happened to Rintaro, the socially withdrawn hero who helped Tiger save books in a second-hand bookshop?

At a time of increased book bannings worldwide, Sosuke Natsukawa urges us not to underestimate the power of great literature—and to be prepared to defend our freedom to choose.]]>
224 Sōsuke Natsukawa 0063419246 Ben 0 to-read 3.82 2024 The Cat Who Saved the Library (The Cat Who..., #2)
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<![CDATA[Finding Baby Holly: Lost to a Cult, Surviving My Parents' Murders, and Saved by Prayer]]> 123204529 ?
At ten months old, Holly Marie was brought to the door of a church by three barefoot women in white robes and head coverings. Adopted by the pastor and raised in a loving Christian home, Holly nevertheless struggled with the ache of not knowing what had happened to her biological parents. She still felt their absence even as she married and started a family of her own. ?
?
When two detectives showed up at the restaurant where she worked and informed her that she had a large family in Florida who had been searching for her for over 40 years, Holly’s past became the reality of her present, and she began the sometimes painful journey of discovering the truth about her Her parents had been brutally murdered, their case still unsolved.
?
With the help of law enforcement across four states, forensic genealogists, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and her newly discovered family members, the missing pieces began to come together. Except these— why had her parents been murdered? And who had murdered them? She soon found out that the truth leads not always to answers but sometimes to more questions, that it also brings healing and restoration, and that we must surrender our unknowns to God until, in His perfect timing, all truths are revealed.
?
Finding Baby Holly is the true, inspiring story of a wife and mother who was “missing” for over forty years after her parents’ murders, the persistent detectives who never stopped investigating, and the birth family who never lost hope in finding her.
?
?]]>
288 Holly Marie 1546006443 Ben 0 to-read 3.27 Finding Baby Holly: Lost to a Cult, Surviving My Parents' Murders, and Saved by Prayer
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<![CDATA[GitHub Actions in Action: Continuous integration and delivery for DevOps]]> 213262600 Automate your build, test, and deploy pipelines using GitHub Actions!

Continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines help you automate the software development process and maximize your team’s efficiency. GitHub Actions in Action teaches you to build real-world build, test, and deploy pipelines in GitHub Actions through hands-on labs and projects.

In GitHub Actions in Action you will learn how

? Create and share GitHub Actions workflows
? Automate CI/CD workloads and other GitHub tasks
? Secure release pipelines with secrets, variables, and environments
? Support compliance frameworks
? Create safe and scalable self-hosted runners

Written by three Microsoft MVPs and tech reviewed by a Staff DevOps Architect from GitHub, this book delivers the hardworking skills and advice you’ll need to be successful on the job. DevOps engineers will love GitHub Actions in Action’s coverage of reliable methods for Infrastructure-as-Code and automating cloud environments. You’ll follow an extended example application for selling tickets, taking it all the way from initial build to cloud deployment.

Foreword by Scott Hanselman.

About the technology

Believe it or not, CI/CD can be simple! With GitHub Actions, you can automate your entire dev process using just the tools built into GitHub—no external frameworks or complex integrations required. GitHub Actions is secure, reliable, and best of all, easy. This book will get you started.

About the book

GitHub Actions in Action teaches you how to build automated delivery pipelines in GitHub. You’ll start with simple examples that demonstrate workflow and action basics, and then you’ll dive into platform architecture, security, and workflow runtime details. As you go, you’ll build a full CI/CD pipeline, optimizing for compliance, performance, and costs. You’ll even create shareable actions for the GitHub marketplace.

What's inside

? Create and share GitHub Actions workflows
? Automate testing and other GitHub tasks
? Secure release pipelines with secrets, variables, and environments

About the reader

For developers and DevOps engineers comfortable with GitHub.

About the author

Michael Kaufmann is a Microsoft Regional Director and MVP. Rob Bos is an Azure and GitHub Trainer, a Microsoft MVP, a GitHub Star, and a LinkedIn Learning Instructor. Marcel de Vries is a CTO of Xebia Microsoft Services, Microsoft Regional Director, and MVP.

The technical editor on this book was James Michael Gousset.

Table of Contents

Part 1
1 Introduction to GitHub Actions
2 My first Actions workflow
3 Workflows
4 GitHub Actions
Part 2
5 Runners
6 Self-hosted runners
7 Managing your self-hosted runners
Part 3
8 Continuous integration
9 Continuous delivery
10 Security
11 Compliance
12 Improving workflow performance and costs]]>
256 Michael Kaufmann 1633437302 Ben 0 to-read 4.07 GitHub Actions in Action: Continuous integration and delivery for DevOps
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Uncanny: The Origins of Fear 207298311
Horror manga legend Junji Ito has fascinated the world with his beautiful and strange tales, starting with his debut story “Tomie,” and followed by Uzumaki, Gyo, and many other famous works.

In this memoir/horror manga analysis, he tells all and digs into dark recesses—reflections on influences from his childhood, thoughts on manga, next-level idea generation techniques, character design, craftmanship, and more. Chock-full of never-before-told insider anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories, this is a must-have book for fans to immerse themselves completely in the world of Junji Ito.   ]]>
304 Junji Ito 1974747301 Ben 0 to-read 4.17 Uncanny: The Origins of Fear
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<![CDATA[Wild Faith: How the Christian Right Is Taking Over America]]> 207567756 An investigation into the rise of the Christian right over the last half-century that lays out the grim vision Evangelicals are enforcing on our democracy.

All across America, a storm is gathering: from book bans in school libraries to anti-trans laws in state legislatures; firebombings of abortion clinics and protests against gay rights. The Christian Right, a cunning political force in America for more than half a century, has never been more powerful than it is right now—it propelled Donald Trump to power, and it won’t stop until it’s refashioned America in its own image.

In Wild Faith, critically acclaimed author Talia Lavin goes deep into what motivates the Christian Right, from its segregationist past to a future riddled with apocalyptic ideology.

Using primary sources and firsthand accounts, Lavin introduces you to “deliverance ministers” who carry out exorcisms by the hundreds; modern-day, self-proclaimed prophets and apostles; Christian militias, cults, zealots, and showmen; and the people in power who are aiding them to achieve their goals.

Along the way, she explores anti-abortion terrorists, the Christian Patriarchy movement, with its desire to place all women under absolute male control; the twisted theology that leads to rampant child abuse; and the ways conspiracy theorists and extremist Christians influence each other to mutual political benefit.

From school boards to the Supreme Court, Christian theocracy is ascendant in America—and only through exploring its motivations and impacts can we understand the crisis we face. In Wild Faith, Lavin fearlessly confronts whether our democracy can survive an organized, fervent theocratic movement, one that seeks to impose its religious beliefs on American citizens.]]>
304 Talia Lavin 0306829193 Ben 0 to-read 4.25 Wild Faith: How the Christian Right Is Taking Over America
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<![CDATA[The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage]]> 214269329 In his first major work since The Universal Christ, one of our most prominent spiritual voices offers a wholehearted and hope-filled model for living today, grounded in the timeless words of the Hebrew prophets.

How do we live compassionately in a time of violence and despair? What can we do with our private disappointments and the anger we feel over an unjust world? In his most personal book yet, Richard Rohr turns to the writings of the Jewish prophets, showing how some of the lesser-read books of the Bible offer us a path forward today.

The prophets’ writings echo the spectrum of human development. Beneath their initial fervor and their forceful words, there lies a profound lamentation about our shared human condition and the pain of the world. Yet, in their astute critiques of culture and institutions, and their movement from anger and lament to wholeness and hope, the prophets embody what Rohr calls holy disorder—a distinct approach to confronting malevolence and recognizing the wholeness of every living being.

Drawing on a century of Biblical scholarship and written in the warm, pastoral voice that has endeared millions to Rohr, The Tears of Things breathes new life into ancient wisdom and paves a path of enlightenment for anyone seeking a wholehearted way of living in a hurting world.]]>
208 Richard Rohr 0593735811 Ben 0 to-read 4.39 The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage
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<![CDATA[If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry: How Death, Debt, and Comedy Led to a Life of Faith, Farming, and Forgetting What I Came into This Room For]]> 180352031 240 Molly Stillman 1400243270 Ben 0 to-read 3.93 If I Don't Laugh, I'll Cry: How Death, Debt, and Comedy Led to a Life of Faith, Farming, and Forgetting What I Came into This Room For
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<![CDATA[Film by Design: The Art of the Movie Poster]]> 203649650
Movie posters, regardless of their country of origin, have become indelibly linked with the films they represent, often assuming a status as visual encapsulations of films within collective memory. Long after their initial role in promotion is complete, these posters endure as iconic images, etched into film history and cultural consciousness. One can hardly hear mention of Steven Spielberg’s landmark production Jaws, for example, without immediately picturing the evocative poster art of Roger Kastel.

Film by The Art of the Movie Poster is a groundbreaking and comprehensive exploration of the international and Hollywood movie poster as a dynamic artistic and cultural formation. Drawing inspiration from such prominent genres as horror, science fiction, and noir, the twelve essays in this collection provide insightful analyses of the movie poster as a vital component of the cinematic landscape from the silent era to the contemporary period. Crucially, this anthology rejects the notion of movie posters as mere historical artifacts or advertising tools and instead examines them as integral parts of a broader aesthetic framework interwoven into their respective film narratives. Each chapter, whether focusing on controversies, close-ups, or Cuba, is accessible to scholars, students, and fans alike. Through its intervention in film studies, Film by Design reveals the movie poster to be an ever-evolving medium, firmly grounded in both theory and practice, while serving as an essential and enduring element within the realm of film art.]]>
242 Gary D. Rhodes 1496853202 Ben 0 to-read 5.00 2024 Film by Design: The Art of the Movie Poster
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<![CDATA[The Book of Yokai, Expanded Second Edition: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore]]> 210450770 Significantly expanded and updated—a lively excursion into Japanese folklore and its increasing influence within global popular culture.
?
Monsters, spirits, fantastic beings, and supernatural creatures haunt the folklore and popular culture of Japan. Broadly labeled 测ō办补颈, they appear in many forms, from tengu mountain goblins and kappa water sprites, to shape-shifting kitsune foxes and long-tongued ceiling-lickers. Popular today in anime, manga, film, and video games, many yōkai originated in local legends, folktales, and regional ghost stories. The Book of Yōkai invites readers to examine how people create, transmit, and collect folklore, and how they make sense of the mysteries in the world around them.

Revised and expanded, this second edition features fifty new illustrations, including an all-new yōkai gallery of stunning color images tracing the visual history of yōkai across centuries. In clear and accessible language, Michael Dylan Foster unpacks the cultural and historical contexts of 测ō办补颈, interpreting their varied meanings and introducing people who have pursued them through the ages.]]>
632 Michael Dylan Foster 0520389565 Ben 0 to-read 4.00 2014 The Book of Yokai, Expanded Second Edition: Mysterious Creatures of Japanese Folklore
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<![CDATA[Unions in the Time of Revolutions: Government Restructuring in Alberta and Ontario]]> 16899075 279 Yonatan Reshef 1281994286 Ben 0 to-read 0.0 2003 Unions in the Time of Revolutions: Government Restructuring in Alberta and Ontario
author: Yonatan Reshef
name: Ben
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2003
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<![CDATA[Revolutionary Taiwan: Making Nationhood in a Changing World Order (Cambria Sinophone World Series)]]> 218458566
Yet this revolution remains unfinished and incomplete. In an era of increasing US-China rivalry, the People's Republic of China (PRC) claims sovereignty over Taiwan and insists that "reunification" is the historic mission of all peoples on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The PRC threatens war with and over the island, inviting a crisis that would engulf the region and beyond.

Common ideas about Taiwan-that it "split with China in 1949" or "sees itself as the true China"-fail to explain why the Taiwanese withstand pressure from the PRC to relinquish their democratic self-governance.

Revolutionary Taiwan sheds light on this. Each chapter shows how democratization in Taiwan constituted a revolution, changing not just the form of government but also how Taiwanese people conceptualized the island, coming to see it a complete nation unto itself. At the same time, however, Beijing has blocked the "normal" endpoint of this an open declaration of statehood and welcome into the global community.

Revolutionary Making Nationhood in a Changing World Order brings the Taiwan story to a general audience. It will appeal to students and readers interested in international relations, contemporary geopolitics, and East Asian Studies. Informed by years of academic research and life in Taiwan, this book provides an entry point to a remarkable place and people.]]>
238 Catherine Lila Chou Ben 0 to-read 5.00 Revolutionary Taiwan: Making Nationhood in a Changing World Order (Cambria Sinophone World Series)
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<![CDATA[Spaces of Mediation: Christian Art and Visual Culture in Taiwan (Contact Zone Book 24)]]> 209879251 152 Su-Chi Lin 3374057578 Ben 0 to-read 0.0 Spaces of Mediation: Christian Art and Visual Culture in Taiwan (Contact Zone Book 24)
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<![CDATA[Industrial Policy, National Security, and the Perilous Plight of the WTO]]> 217488447 Petros C. Mavroidis's new book provides insight into current international trade, national security, and environmental challenges facing the world community, of which the World Trade Organization (WTO) is at the epicenter. Even if the WTO overcame its current crisis, its adjudication branch is insufficiently equipped to address the aforementioned challenges and the WTO contract itself is in dire need of updating. Yet, as Mavroidis argues, ensuring the survival of the WTO is crucial for rebuilding the trust of the global trading community. In this direction, Mavroidis offers concrete proposals toward improving the function of the WTO and reigniting global collaboration.]]> 384 Petros C. Mavroidis 0197795102 Ben 0 to-read 0.0 Industrial Policy, National Security, and the Perilous Plight of the WTO
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<![CDATA[Cinema and Sensation: French Film and the Art of Transgression]]> 3373622 experimental and mainstream]]> 208 Martine Beugnet 0748620427 Ben 0 to-read 4.00 2007 Cinema and Sensation: French Film and the Art of Transgression
author: Martine Beugnet
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average rating: 4.00
book published: 2007
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<![CDATA[Carbon Capture and Other Climate Tech (Cool Tech 3)]]> 216775658 50 Richard Spilsbury 0716654938 Ben 0 to-read 3.00 Carbon Capture and Other Climate Tech (Cool Tech 3)
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C++ Essentials For Dummies 215522982 The quick and crystal-clear guide to C++ programming

C++ Essentials For Dummies is your useful reference to the key concepts of C++, the popular general-purpose language utilized everywhere from building games to writing parts of operating systems. With minimal review and background material—and absolutely no fluff—this book gets straight to the essential topics you need to know to ramp up, brush up, or level up.

Get a helpful intro to the basic concepts of coding in C++ Review what you already know or pick up essential new skills Create projects that run smoothly with the C++ language Keep this concise reference book handy for jogging your memory as you work Great for supplementing classroom learning, reviewing for a certification, or staying knowledgeable on the job, C++ Essentials For Dummies is a fantastic refresher guide that you can always turn to for answers.]]>
192 John Paul Mueller 1394307888 Ben 0 to-read 0.0 C++ Essentials For Dummies
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<![CDATA[Machine Learning System Design: With end-to-end examples]]> 142133078 Get the big picture and the important details with this end-to-end guide for designing highly effective, reliable machine learning systems.

In Machine Learning System Design: With end-to-end examples you will learn:

- The big picture of machine learning system design
- Analyzing a problem space to identify the optimal ML solution
- Ace ML system design interviews
- Selecting appropriate metrics and evaluation criteria
- Prioritizing tasks at different stages of ML system design
- Solving dataset-related problems through data gathering, error analysis, and feature engineering
- Recognizing common pitfalls in ML system development
- Designing ML systems to be lean, maintainable, and extensible over time

Machine Learning System Design: With end-to-end examples is a practical guide for planning and designing successful ML applications. It lays out a clear, repeatable framework for building, maintaining, and improving systems at any scale. Authors Arseny Kravchenko and Valeri Babushkin have filled this unique handbook with campfire stories and personal tips from their own extensive careers. You’ll learn directly from their experience as you consider every facet of a machine learning system, from requirements gathering and data sourcing to deployment and management of the finished system.

about the technology

Machine learning system design is complex. The successful ML engineer needs to navigate a multistep process that demands skills from many different fields and roles. This one-of-kind-guide starts by showing you the big picture and then guides you step by step through a framework for creating successful systems. You’ll learn to excel at delivering for global objectives, diving locally into tools, and combining your knowledge into an integrated vision.

about the book

In Machine Learning System Design: With end-to-end examples you’ll find a step-by-step framework for creating, implementing, releasing, and maintaining your ML system. Every part of the life cycle is covered, from information gathering to keeping your system well-serviced. Each stage includes its own handy checklist of requirements and is fully illustrated with real-world examples, including interesting anecdotes from the author’s own careers.

You’ll follow two example companies each building a new ML system, exploring how their needs are expressed in design documents and learning best practices by writing your own. Along the way, you’ll learn how to ace ML system design interviews, even at highly competitive FAANG-like companies, and improve existing ML systems by identifying bottlenecks and optimizing system performance.]]>
325 Valerii Babushkin 1633438759 Ben 0 to-read 4.38 Machine Learning System Design: With end-to-end examples
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<![CDATA[AI Valley: Microsoft, Google, and the Trillion-Dollar Race to Cash In on Artificial Intelligence]]> 215217600 A veteran Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist shadows the top thinkers in the field of Artificial Intelligence, introducing the breakthroughs and developments that will change the way we live and work.

Artificial Intelligence has been “just around the corner” for decades, continually?disappointing those who long believed in its potential. But now, with the emergence and growing use of ChatGPT, Gemini, and a rapidly multiplying number of other AI tools, many are Has AI’s moment finally arrived?

In AI Valley, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Rivlin brings us deep into the world of AI development in Silicon Valley. Over the course of more than a year, Rivlin closely follows founders and venture capitalists trying to capitalize on this AI moment. That includes LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, the legendary investor whom the Wall Street Journal once called, “the most connected person in Silicon Valley.”

Through Hoffman, Rivlin is granted access to a number of companies on the cutting-edge of AI research, such as Inflection AI, the company Hoffman cofounded in 2022, and OpenAI, the San Francisco-based startup that sparked it all with its release at the end of that year of ChatGPT. In addition to Hoffman, Rivlin introduces us to other AI experts, including OpenAI cofounder Sam Altman and Mustafa Suleyman, the co-founder of DeepMind, an early AI startup that Google bought for $650 ?million in 2014. Rivlin also brings readers inside Microsoft, Meta, Google and other tech giants scrambling to keep pace.

On this vast frontier, no one knows which of these companies will hit it big–or which will flame out spectacularly. In this riveting narrative marbled with familiar names such as Musk, Zuckerberg, and Gates, Rivlin chronicles breakthroughs as they happen, giving us a deep understanding of what’s around the corner in AI development. An adventure story full of drama and unforgettable personalities, AI Valley promises to be the definitive story for anyone seeking to understand the latest phase of world-changing discoveries and the minds behind them.


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320 Gary Rivlin 0063347490 Ben 0 to-read 4.22 AI Valley: Microsoft, Google, and the Trillion-Dollar Race to Cash In on Artificial Intelligence
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<![CDATA[Ripper: The Making of Pierre Poilievre]]> 229297438 As Canada heads towards a pivotal election, bestselling author Mark Bourrie charts the rise of Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre and considers the history and potential cost of the politics of division.

Six weeks into the Covid pandemic, New York Times columnist David Brooks identified two types of Western rippers and weavers. Rippers, whether on the right or the left, see politics as war. They don’t care about the destruction that’s caused as they fight for power. Weavers are their people who try to fix things, who want to bring people together and try to build consensus. At the beginning of the pandemic, weavers seemed to be winning. Five years later, as Canada heads towards a pivotal election, that’s no longer the case. Across the border, a ripper is remaking the American government. And for the first time in its history, Canada has its own ripper poised to assume power.

Pierre Poilievre has enjoyed most of the advantages of the mainstream Canadian middle class. Yet he’s long been the angriest man on the political stage. In The Making of Pierre Poilievre, bestselling author Mark Bourrie, winner of the Charles Taylor Prize, charts Poilievre’s rise through the political system, from teenage volunteer to outspoken Opposition leader known for cutting soundbites and theatrics. Bourrie shows how we arrived at this divisive moment in our history, one in which rippers are poised to capitalize on conflict. He shows how Poilievre and this new style of politics have gained so much ground—and warns of what it will cost us if they succeed.]]>
448 Mark Bourrie 1771967013 Ben 4 4.34 Ripper: The Making of Pierre Poilievre
author: Mark Bourrie
name: Ben
average rating: 4.34
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rating: 4
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date added: 2025/04/17
shelves: government, leadership, journalism, biography, historical, history, political-science, politics
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<![CDATA[Our Nation at Risk: Election Integrity as a National Security Issue]]> 199646902
In recent years, the sight of gun-wielding citizens patrolling ballot boxes and voting sites has become increasingly familiar.. Major news corporations parroting false claims of election fraud, ballot stuffing, and faulty voting systems s the new normal. In an era of global anti-democratic movements, the sanctity of democratic electoral processes has become a major national security concern, and the need to protect elections from foreign interference, disinformation, voter intimidation, and the danger of election results being overturned, are now front and center. How did we get here? And more importantly, how will this affect the future of democracy?

Award-winning authors Julian E. Zelizer and Karen J. Greenberg bring together the nation’s top political scientists, historians, and legal scholars to examine how the lack of stability and integrity of the electoral process has become a threat to national security. Through historical and social scientific analysis, contributors outline how these problems have emerged and propose concrete solutions to move us into a period of greater stability. At once urgent and comprehensive, Our Nation at Risk is the preeminent book on election security and a must read for anyone invested in the fight for democracy.]]>
376 Julian E. Zelizer 1479830917 Ben 5 4.57 Our Nation at Risk: Election Integrity as a National Security Issue
author: Julian E. Zelizer
name: Ben
average rating: 4.57
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/17
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves: china, espionage, international-relations, journalism, government, political-science, politics, anarchism, true-crime, sociology, cultural
review:

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<![CDATA[Fear: Trump in the White House]]> 41797121 THE INSIDE STORY ON PRESIDENT TRUMP, AS ONLY BOB WOODWARD CAN TELL IT

With authoritative reporting honed through eight presidencies from Nixon to Obama, author Bob Woodward reveals in unprecedented detail the harrowing life inside President Donald Trump’s White House and precisely how he makes decisions on major foreign and domestic policies. Woodward draws from hundreds of hours of interviews with firsthand sources, meeting notes, personal diaries, files and documents. The focus is on the explosive debates and the decision-making in the Oval Office, the Situation Room, Air Force One and the White House residence.

Fear is the most intimate portrait of a sitting president ever published during the president’s first years in office.]]>
1054 Bob Woodward Ben 4 3.62 2018 Fear: Trump in the White House
author: Bob Woodward
name: Ben
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/17
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves: political-science, politics, historical, history, presidents, journalism, international-relations, russia
review:

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<![CDATA[Take the Slow Road: Spain and Portugal: Inspirational Journeys Round Spain and Portugal by Camper Van and Motorhome]]> 74869845 The ultimate guide to the very best scenic and fun routes for camper vans and motorhomes around the mountains, coastlines and winding roads of beautiful Spain and Portugal.

Forget hurrying. Forget putting your foot down and racing through sweeping bends. Forget the understeer (whatever that is). Forget the blur of a life lived too fast. This is a look at taking life slowly. It's about taking the time to enjoy journeys and places for their own sake. It's about stopping and putting the kettle on. Stopping to take a picture. Stopping to enjoy stopping.

How are you going to do it? In a camper van or a motorhome, of course.

In this book we define the best driving routes around Spain and Portugal for camper vans and motorhomes. We show you the coolest places to stay, what to see, what to do and explain why it's special. We meander around Spain and Portugal on the most breathtaking roads, chugging up mountain passes and pootling along the coast. We show you stuff that's fun, often free. We include the best drives for different kinds of drivers; for walkers, culture-buffs, sea-swimmers and sun-worshippers. We include the steepest, the bendiest, the most picturesque and most interesting. And you don't even have to own a camper van or motorhome – we'll tell you the many places you can rent one to take you on the journey.

All of this is interspersed with beautiful photos, handy maps and quirky travel writing from the king of camper vans and motorhomes, Martin Dorey. So if all you want to do is flick through on a cold day and plan your next outing, you'll be transported (albeit slowly) to cobbled streets, beaches, mountains and winding roads that make you want to turn the key and go, go, go!]]>
433 Martin Dorey 1844865959 Ben 4 4.00 Take the Slow Road: Spain and Portugal: Inspirational Journeys Round Spain and Portugal by Camper Van and Motorhome
author: Martin Dorey
name: Ben
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/17
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves: inspirational, travel, travelogue, outdoors, guidebook, reference
review:

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<![CDATA[What Is Real?: The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics]]> 35604796 The untold story of the heretical thinkers who dared to question the nature of our quantum universe
Every physicist agrees quantum mechanics is among humanity's finest scientific achievements. But ask what it means, and the result will be a brawl. For a century, most physicists have followed Niels Bohr's Copenhagen interpretation and dismissed questions about the reality underlying quantum physics as meaningless. A mishmash of solipsism and poor reasoning, Copenhagen endured, as Bohr's students vigorously protected his legacy, and the physics community favored practical experiments over philosophical arguments. As a result, questioning the status quo long meant professional ruin. And yet, from the 1920s to today, physicists like John Bell, David Bohm, and Hugh Everett persisted in seeking the true meaning of quantum mechanics. What Is Real? is the gripping story of this battle of ideas and of the courageous scientists who dared to stand up for truth.
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384 Adam Becker 0465096050 Ben 3 4.26 2018 What Is Real?: The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics
author: Adam Becker
name: Ben
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/17
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves: science, physics, philosophy, history, historical, history-of-science, quantum-mechanics, popular-science, technology, space
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<![CDATA[Functional Art, The: An introduction to information graphics and visualization (Voices That Matter)]]> 19259351 Unlike any time before in our lives, we have access to vast amounts of free information. With the right tools, we can start to make sense of all this data to see patterns and trends that would otherwise be invisible to us. By transforming numbers into graphical shapes, we allow readers to understand the stories those numbers hide. In this practical introduction to understanding and using information graphics, you’ll learn how to use data visualizations as tools to see beyond lists of numbers and variables and achieve new insights into the complex world around us. Regardless of the kind of data you’re working with–business, science, politics, sports, or even your own personal finances–this book will show you how to use statistical charts, maps, and explanation diagrams to spot the stories in the data and learn new things from it. You’ll also get to peek into the creative process of some of the world’s most talented designers and visual journalists, including Condé Nast Traveler’s John Grimwade, National Geographic Magazine’s Fernando Baptista, The New York Times’ Steve Duenes, The Washington Post’s Hannah Fairfield, Hans Rosling of the Gapminder Foundation, Stanford’s Geoff McGhee, and European superstars Moritz Stefaner, Jan Willem Tulp, Stefanie Posavec, and Gregor Aisch. The book also includes a DVD-ROM containing over 90 minutes of video lessons that expand on core concepts explained within the book and includes even more inspirational information graphics from the world’s leading designers. The first book to offer a broad, hands-on introduction to information graphics and visualization, The Functional Art ? Why data visualization should be thought of as “functional art” rather than fine art ? How to use color, type, and other graphic tools to make your information graphics more effective, not just better looking ? The science of how our brains perceive and remember information ? Best practices for creating interactive information graphics ? A comprehensive look at the creative process behind successful information graphics ? An extensive gallery of inspirational work from the world’s top designers and visual artists On the In this introductory video course on information graphics, Alberto Cairo goes into greater detail with even more visual examples of how to create effective information graphics that function as practical tools for aiding perception. You’ll learn how incorporate basic design principles in your visualizations, create simple interfaces for interactive graphics, and choose the appropriate type of graphic forms for your data. Cairo also deconstructs successful information graphics from The New York Times and National Geographic magazine with sketches and images not shown in the book.All of Peachpit's eBooks contain the same content as the print edition. You will find a link in the last few pages of your eBook that directs you to the media files.

Helpful

If you are able to search the book, search for "Where are the lesson files?"

Go to the very last page of the book and scroll backwards.

You will need a web-enabled device or computer in order to access the media files that accompany this ebook. Entering the URL supplied into a computer with web access will allow you to get to the files.

Depending on your device, it is possible that your display settings will cut off part of the URL.]]>
507 Alberto Cairo 0133041360 Ben 4 4.10 2011 Functional Art, The: An introduction to information graphics and visualization (Voices That Matter)
author: Alberto Cairo
name: Ben
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/17
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves: design, business, science, art, programming, technology, communication, computer-science, computers, reference
review:

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<![CDATA[Separate Beds: A History of Indian Hospitals in Canada, 1920s-1980s]]> 23322187 Separate Beds is the shocking story of Canada's system of segregated health care. Operated by the same bureaucracy that was expanding health care opportunities for most Canadians, the "Indian Hospitals" were underfunded, understaffed, overcrowded, and rife with coercion and medical experimentation. Established to keep the Aboriginal tuberculosis population isolated, they became a means of ensuring that other Canadians need not share access to modern hospitals with Aboriginal patients.

Tracing the history of the system from its fragmentary origins to its gradual collapse, Maureen K. Lux describes the arbitrary and contradictory policies that governed the "Indian Hospitals," the experiences of patients and staff, and the vital grassroots activism that pressed the federal government to acknowledge its treaty obligations.

A disturbing look at the dark side of the liberal welfare state, Separate Beds reveals a history of racism and negligence in health care for Canada's First Nations that should never be forgotten.]]>
288 Maureen K. Lux 1442613866 Ben 5 4.25 2013 Separate Beds: A History of Indian Hospitals in Canada, 1920s-1980s
author: Maureen K. Lux
name: Ben
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/17
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves: indigenous, indigenous-history, medical, medicine, abuse, political-science, politics, historical, history, history-of-medicine, cultural-studies, cultural, activism, anarchism, social-issues, social-justice, history-of-science, race, anti-racist
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<![CDATA[The Emotional Brain: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life]]> 26112573 386 Joseph E. LeDoux 1439126380 Ben 3 4.04 1996 The Emotional Brain: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life
author: Joseph E. LeDoux
name: Ben
average rating: 4.04
book published: 1996
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/17
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves: psychology, neuroscience, science, brain, self-help, biology, emotion, mental-health, education
review:

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<![CDATA[In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness]]> 18878550
In this culmination of his life’s work, Peter A. Levine draws on his broad experience as a clinician, a student of comparative brain research, a stress scientist and a keen observer of the naturalistic animal world to explain the nature and transformation of trauma in the body, brain and psyche. In an Unspoken Voice is based on the idea that trauma is neither a disease nor a disorder, but rather an injury caused by fright, helplessness and loss that can be healed by engaging our innate capacity to self-regulate high states of arousal and intense emotions. Enriched with a coherent theoretical framework and compelling case examples, the book elegantly blends the latest findings in biology, neuroscience and body-oriented psychotherapy to show that when we bring together animal instinct and reason, we can become more whole human beings.]]>
403 Peter A. Levine Ben 3 4.30 2010 In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness
author: Peter A. Levine
name: Ben
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/17
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves: psychology, self-help, mental-health, health, science, councelling, personal-development, neuroscience, spirituality
review:

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<![CDATA[How to Live: A Life of Montaigne in one question and twenty attempts at an answer]]> 11428775 How to get on well with people, how to deal with violence, how to adjust to losing someone you love? How to live?



This question obsessed Renaissance nobleman Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (1533-92), who wrote free-roaming explorations of his thought and experience, unlike anything written before. Into these essays he put whatever was in his head: his tastes in wine and food, his childhood memories, the way his dog's ears twitched when it was dreaming, events in the appalling civil wars raging around him. The Essays was an instant bestseller, and over four hundred years later, readers still come to him in search of companionship, wisdom and entertainment - and in search of themselves.



This first full biography of Montaigne in English for nearly fifty years relates the story of his life by way of the questions he posed and the answers he explored.

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525 Sarah Bakewell Ben 3 4.33 2010 How to Live: A Life of Montaigne in one question and twenty attempts at an answer
author: Sarah Bakewell
name: Ben
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/17
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves: philosophy, biography, history, historical, self-help, psychology, writing
review:

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Who Is Jesus? (9Marks) 24435111 146 Greg Gilbert 1433543524 Ben 4 Jesus Inside

Wow, this book really blew me away!

This book is a fantastic read for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of who Jesus is.
The author does an incredible job of explaining complex theological concepts in a way that is easy to understand and relatable. I found myself feeling more connected to Jesus after reading this book.

Not only is it informative and spiritually uplifting, but it is also very well-written. Gilbert's writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, making it hard to put the book down.
The insights he shares are truly enlightening and will leave you with a newfound appreciation for Jesus and his teachings.

Whether you are a new believer or a seasoned Christian, this book is a must-read.
It is especially timely to read during the Easter season, as it will deepen your understanding of the significance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. I highly recommend "Who Is Jesus?" and give it...

4.7/5]]>
4.42 Who Is Jesus? (9Marks)
author: Greg Gilbert
name: Ben
average rating: 4.42
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2023/04/07
date added: 2025/04/15
shelves: theology, christian, evangelism, discipleship, spirituality, religion
review:
Jesus Inside

Wow, this book really blew me away!

This book is a fantastic read for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of who Jesus is.
The author does an incredible job of explaining complex theological concepts in a way that is easy to understand and relatable. I found myself feeling more connected to Jesus after reading this book.

Not only is it informative and spiritually uplifting, but it is also very well-written. Gilbert's writing style is engaging and thought-provoking, making it hard to put the book down.
The insights he shares are truly enlightening and will leave you with a newfound appreciation for Jesus and his teachings.

Whether you are a new believer or a seasoned Christian, this book is a must-read.
It is especially timely to read during the Easter season, as it will deepen your understanding of the significance of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. I highly recommend "Who Is Jesus?" and give it...

4.7/5
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Burning Chrome 21940560 Best-known for his seminal sf novel Neuromancer, William Gibson is actually best when writing short fiction. Tautly-written and suspenseful, Burning Chrome collects 10 of his best short stories with a preface from Bruce Sterling, now available for the first time in trade paperback. These brilliant, high-resolution stories show Gibson's characters and intensely-realized worlds at his absolute best, from the chip-enhanced couriers of "Johnny Mnemonic" to the street-tech melancholy of "Burning Chrome."

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223 William Gibson Ben 3 -Max

It was a good read!

3.2/5]]>
4.25 1986 Burning Chrome
author: William Gibson
name: Ben
average rating: 4.25
book published: 1986
rating: 3
read at: 2020/05/09
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves: science-fiction, cyberpunk, short-stories, fantasy, dystopia, anthologies
review:
"Keanu Reeves himself is hidden within these pages"
-Max

It was a good read!

3.2/5
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<![CDATA[The Art of Mac Malware, Volume 2: Detecting Malicious Software]]> 217082266 This first-of-its-kind guide to detecting stealthy Mac malware gives you the tools and techniques to counter even the most sophisticated threats targeting the Apple ecosystem.

Macs have become a popular target of cyber-criminals, and there are few effective defenses against these pernicious threats — until now. The second volume of The Art of Mac Malware is the first book to cover state-of-the-art programming techniques and security tools for detecting and countering malicious code running on a macOS system.?

Author Patrick Wardle, a former NSA hacker and a leading authority on macOS threat analysis, shares real-world examples from his own research to reveal the many strategies used by actual malware specimens to evade detection. As you dive deep into the Mac operating system’s internals, you’ll learn

Apple’s public and private frameworks and APIsHow to build heuristic-based security tools for the macOSUsing the macOS Endpoint Security framework to develop real-time monitoring software?Objective-See’s suite of anti-malware tools, including KnockKnock, BlockBlock, and OverSight
But this book is not just aimed at practitioners — for anyone interested in understanding the current threats facing the Apple ecosystem, it’s a must-read.]]>
376 Patrick Wardle 1718503784 Ben 0 to-read 5.00 The Art of Mac Malware, Volume 2: Detecting Malicious Software
author: Patrick Wardle
name: Ben
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/04/13
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[A Beginner's Guide To Web Application Penetration Testing (Tech Today)]]> 214292858 A hands-on, beginner-friendly intro to web application pentesting

In A Beginner's Guide to Web Application Penetration Testing, seasoned cybersecurity veteran Ali Abdollahi delivers a startlingly insightful and up-to-date exploration of web app pentesting. In the book, Ali takes a dual approach—emphasizing both theory and practical skills—equipping you to jumpstart a new career in web application security.

You'll learn about common vulnerabilities and how to perform a variety of effective attacks on web applications. Consistent with the approach publicized by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), the book explains how to find, exploit and combat the ten most common security vulnerability categories, including broken access controls, cryptographic failures, code injection, security misconfigurations, and more.

A Beginner's Guide to Web Application Penetration Testing walks you through the five main stages of a comprehensive penetration scoping and reconnaissance, scanning, gaining and maintaining access, analysis, and reporting. You'll also discover how to use several popular security tools and techniques—like as well

Demonstrations of the performance of various penetration testing techniques, including subdomain enumeration with Sublist3r and Subfinder, and port scanning with Nmap Strategies for analyzing and improving the security of web applications against common attacks, including Explanations of the increasing importance of web application security, and how to use techniques like input validation, disabling external entities to maintain security Perfect for software engineers new to cybersecurity, security analysts, web developers, and other IT professionals, A Beginner's Guide to Web Application Penetration Testing will also earn a prominent place in the libraries of cybersecurity students and anyone else with an interest in web application security.]]>
352 Ali Abdollahi 1394295596 Ben 0 to-read 0.0 A Beginner's Guide To Web Application Penetration Testing (Tech Today)
author: Ali Abdollahi
name: Ben
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Build a Robo-Advisor with Python (From Scratch): Automate your financial and investment decisions]]> 182614677
In Build a Robo Advisor with Python (From Scratch) you’ll learn how


Every day automated digital advisors, also called robo advisors, make financial decisions worth millions of dollars. Build a Robo Advisor with Python (From Scratch): Automate your financial and investment decisions teaches you how to construct a Python-based financial advisor of your very own! You’ll develop a flexible tool that’s capable of managing a real investing strategy—all with popular free Python libraries.

About the technology
Automated “robo advisors” are commonplace in financial services, thanks to their ability to give high-quality investment advice at a fraction of the cost of human advisors. Your own robo advisor will be a real asset for your financial planning, whether you’re saving for retirement, creating a diversified portfolio, or trying to ensure your tax efficiency.

About the book
In Build a Robo Advisor with Python (From Scratch) , you’ll design and develop a working financial advisor that can manage a real investing strategy. You’ll add new features to your advisor chapter-by-chapter, including determining the optimal weight of cryptocurrency in your portfolio, rebalancing to keep your investments on target while minimizing taxes, and using reinforcement learning to find a “glide path” that can maximize how long your money will last in retirement. Best of all, the skills you learn in reinforcement learning, convex optimization, and Monte Carlo methods can be applied to numerous lucrative fields beyond the domain of finance.

About the reader
The book is accessible to anyone with a basic knowledge of Python and finance—no special skills required.

About the author
Rob Reider has been a quantitative hedge fund portfolio manager for over 15 years. He holds a PhD in Finance from The Wharton School and is an Adjunct Professor at NYU, where he teaches a graduate course in the Math-Finance department called “Time Series Analysis and Statistical Arbitrage.” He has built asset allocation models, financial planning tools, and optimal tax strategies for a robo advisor. Rob has given numerous lectures that combine Python with finance, as well as developing an online course entitled “Time Series Analysis in Python.” As a hedge fund manager, Rob has been involved in all aspects of the investment process, from discovering new trading strategies to backtesting, executing, and managing the risk.

Alex Michalka has worked in finance and technology since 2006. He began his career developing weather derivative pricing models at Weatherbill, spent six years conducting research on quantitative equity portfolio construction at AQR Capital Management, and currently leads the investments research group at Wealthfront. He holds a BA in applied mathematics from UC Berkeley and a PhD in operations research from Columbia University.]]>
336 Rob Reider 1633439674 Ben 0 to-read 4.83 Build a Robo-Advisor with Python (From Scratch): Automate your financial and investment decisions
author: Rob Reider
name: Ben
average rating: 4.83
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Building AI-Powered Products: The Essential Guide to AI and GenAI Product Management]]> 228023948





Confidently manage AI product development with tools, frameworks, strategic insights, and real-world examples from Google, Meta, OpenAI, and moreLead product orgs to solve real problems via agentic AI and GenAI capabilitiesGain AI Awareness and technical fluency to work with AI models, LLMs, and the algorithms that power them; get cross-functional alignment; make strategic trade-offs; and set OKRs]]>
366 Marily Nika 1098152662 Ben 0 to-read 3.80 Building AI-Powered Products: The Essential Guide to AI and GenAI Product Management
author: Marily Nika
name: Ben
average rating: 3.80
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Data Science Essentials For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))]]> 212992717 Feel confident navigating the fundamentals of data science

Data Science Essentials For Dummies is a quick reference on the core concepts of the exploding and in-demand data science field, which involves data collection and working on dataset cleaning, processing, and visualization. This direct and accessible resource helps you brush up on key topics and is right to the point—eliminating review material, wordy explanations, and fluff—so you get what you need, fast.

Strengthen your understanding of data science basics Review what you've already learned or pick up key skills Effectively work with data and provide accessible materials to others Jog your memory on the essentials as you work and get clear answers to your questions Perfect for supplementing classroom learning, reviewing for a certification, or staying knowledgeable on the job, Data Science Essentials For Dummies is a reliable reference that's great to keep on hand as an everyday desk reference.]]>
192 Lillian Pierson 1394297009 Ben 0 to-read 4.00 Data Science Essentials For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
author: Lillian Pierson
name: Ben
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/04/13
shelves: to-read
review:

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Change Agent 31568220 On a crowded train platform, Interpol agent Kenneth Durand feels the sting of a needle— and his transformation begins. . . .?
?
In 2045 Kenneth Durand leads Interpol’s most effective team against genetic crime, hunting down black market labs that perform "vanity edits" on human embryos for a price. These illegal procedures augment embryos in ways that are rapidly accelerating human evolution—preying on human-trafficking victims to experiment and advance their technology.
?
With the worlds of genetic crime and human trafficking converging, Durand and his fellow Interpol agents discover that one figure looms behind it all: Marcus Demang Wyckes, leader of a powerful and sophisticated cartel known as the Huli jing.
?
But the Huli jing have identified Durand, too. After being forcibly dosed with a radical new change agent, Durand wakes from a coma weeks later to find he’s been genetically transformed into someone else—his most wanted suspect: Wyckes.
?
Now a fugitive, pursued through the genetic underworld by his former colleagues and the police, Durand is determined to restore his original DNA by locating the source of the mysterious—and highly valuable—change agent. But Durand hasn’t anticipated just how difficult locating his enemy will be. With the technology to genetically edit the living, Wyckes and his Huli jing could be anyone and everyone—and they have plans to undermine identity itself.


From the Hardcover edition.]]>
416 Daniel Suarez Ben 0 to-read 4.12 2017 Change Agent
author: Daniel Suarez
name: Ben
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves: to-read
review:

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<![CDATA[Who Is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service]]> 219551344 Who works for the government and what do they do? A timely and absorbing civics lessons from an all-star team of writers and storytellers.

The government is a vast, complex system that Americans pay for, rebel against, rely upon, dismiss, and celebrate. It’s also our shared resource for addressing the biggest problems of society. And it’s made up of people, mostly unrecognized and uncelebrated, doing work that can be deeply consequential and beneficial to everyone.

????Michael Lewis invited his favorite writers to find someone doing an interesting job for the government and write about them. The stories they found are unexpected, riveting, and inspiring, including a former coal miner devoted to making mine roofs less likely to collapse, saving thousands of lives; an IRS agent straight out of a crime thriller; and the manager who made the National Cemetery Administration the best-run organization, public or private, in the entire country. Each essay shines a spotlight on the essential behind-the-scenes work of exemplary federal employees.

????Whether they’re digitizing archives, chasing down cybercriminals, or discovering new planets, these workers are committed to their work and universally reluctant to take credit. The vivid profiles in On Duty blow up the stereotype of the irrelevant bureaucrat. They show how the essential business of government makes our lives possible, and how much it matters.]]>
272 Michael Lewis Ben 5 4.19 2025 Who Is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service
author: Michael Lewis
name: Ben
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves: political-science, politics, biography, government, historical, history, leadership
review:

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