Book picks similar to
The Venus Project: The Redesign Of A Culture by Jacque Fresco
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Intellectuals and Society
Thomas Sowell - 2009
It has not been by shaping the opinions or directing the actions of the holders of power that modern intellectuals have most influenced the course of events, but by shaping public opinion in ways that affect the actions of power holders in democratic societies, whether or not those power holders accept the general vision or the particular policies favored by intellectuals. Even government leaders with disdain or contempt for intellectuals have had to bend to the climate of opinion shaped by those intellectuals.Intellectuals and Society not only examines the track record of intellectuals in the things they have advocated but also analyzes the incentives and constraints under which their views and visions have emerged. One of the most surprising aspects of this study is how often intellectuals have been proved not only wrong, but grossly and disastrously wrong in their prescriptions for the ills of society—and how little their views have changed in response to empirical evidence of the disasters entailed by those views.
Days from the Heart of the Home
Susan Branch - 1996
Now, for fall 1997, she's created a new hand-painted book that no fan will want to miss -- the Heart of the Home Address Book. For everyone who loves Susan Branch, it's the ideal gift for holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions -- now and for years to come.Filled with Branch's homespun wit and wisdom and decorated with her signature watercolors, this lovely address book features a ring binding that allows for paper refills as well as special pages for recording birthdays, anniversaries, and other special dates.
God's Own Kitchen: The Inspiring Story of Akshaya Patra - A Social Enterprise Run by Monks and CEOs
Rashmi Bansal - 2017
Instead, he was the ‘CEO’ of a large temple. Guided by his guru A C Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada. Propelled forward by the Divine Plan.A chance meeting with Mohandas Pai inspired Madhu Pandit to use the spare capacity in the ISKCON kitchen. To start a mid-day meal program for 1500 children, in and around Bangalore. Today, Akshaya Patra is the world’s largest NGO-led mid-day meal program, with 27 kitchens across 11 states. Serving 1.6 million hot lunches to government schools each day.This is the exciting story of spiritualists and capitalists coming together to launch a unique start-up. And taking it to scale. A ‘Made in India’ success story using the head, the heart and a whole lot of soul.
Blueprint for Revolution: How to Use Rice Pudding, Lego Men, and Other Nonviolent Techniques to Galvanize Communities, Overthrow Dictators, or Simply Change the World
Srdja Popovic - 2015
Otpor’s methods . . . have been adopted by democracy movements around the world. The Egyptian opposition used them to topple Hosni Mubarak. In Lebanon, the Serbs helped the Cedar Revolution extricate the country from Syrian control. In Maldives, their methods were the key to overthrowing a dictator who had held power for thirty years. In many other countries, people have used what Canvas teaches to accomplish other political goals, such as fighting corruption or protecting the environment.”—The New York Times“A clear, well-constructed, and easily applicable set of principles for any David facing any Goliath (sans slingshot, of course) . . . By the end of Blueprint, the idea that a punch is no match for a punch line feels like anything but a joke.”—The Boston Globe“An entertaining primer on the theory and practice of peaceful protest.”—The Guardian “With this wonderful book, Srdja Popovic is inspiring ordinary people facing injustice and oppression to use this tool kit to challenge their oppressors and create something much better. When I was growing up, we dreamed that young people could bring down those who misused their power and create a more just and democratic society. For Srdja Popovic, living in Belgrade in 1998, this same dream was potentially a much more dangerous idea. But with an extraordinarily courageous group of students that formed Otpor!, Srdja used imagination, invention, cunning, and lots of humor to create a movement that not only succeeded in toppling the brutal dictator Slobodan Milošević but has become a blueprint for nonviolent revolution around the world. Srdja rules!”—Peter Gabriel “Blueprint for Revolution is not only a spirited guide to changing the world but a breakthrough in the annals of advice for those who seek justice and democracy. It asks (and not heavy-handedly): As long as you want to change the world, why not do it joyfully? It’s not just funny. It’s seriously funny. No joke.”—Todd Gitlin, author of The Sixties and Occupy Nation
Everything I Know About Love
Dolly Alderton - 2018
In her memoir, she vividly recounts falling in love, finding a job, getting drunk, getting dumped, realizing that Ivan from the corner shop might just be the only reliable man in her life, and that absolutely no one can ever compare to her best girlfriends. Everything I Know About Love is about bad dates, good friends and—above all else— realizing that you are enough.Glittering with wit and insight, heart and humor, Dolly Alderton’s unforgettable debut weaves together personal stories, satirical observations, a series of lists, recipes, and other vignettes that will strike a chord of recognition with women of every age—making you want to pick up the phone and tell your best friends all about it. Like Bridget Jones’ Diary but all true, Everything I Know About Love is about the struggles of early adulthood in all its terrifying and hopeful uncertainty.
The War on Normal People: The Truth About America's Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future
Andrew Yang - 2018
The shift toward automation is about to create a tsunami of unemployment. Not in the distant future—now. One recent estimate predicts 45 million American workers will lose their jobs within the next twelve years—jobs that won't be replaced. In a future marked by restlessness and chronic unemployment, what will happen to American society? In The War on Normal People, Andrew Yang paints a dire portrait of the American economy. Rapidly advancing technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics and automation software are making millions of Americans' livelihoods irrelevant. The consequences of these trends are already being felt across our communities in the form of political unrest, drug use, and other social ills. The future looks dire-but is it unavoidable? In The War on Normal People, Yang imagines a different future—one in which having a job is distinct from the capacity to prosper and seek fulfillment. At this vision's core is Universal Basic Income, the concept of providing all citizens with a guaranteed income-and one that is rapidly gaining popularity among forward-thinking politicians and economists. Yang proposes that UBI is an essential step toward a new, more durable kind of economy, one he calls "human capitalism."
The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements
Eric Hoffer - 1951
The True Believer -- the first and most famous of his books -- was made into a bestseller when President Eisenhower cited it during one of the earliest television press conferences. Completely relevant and essential for understanding the world today, The True Believer is a visionary, highly provocative look into the mind of the fanatic and a penetrating study of how an individual becomes one.
Overcome Anxiety: A Self Help Toolkit for Anxiety Relief and Panic Attacks
Matt Lewis - 2016
Maybe, you’re struggling with anxiety for the first time, or have lived with it for a very long time. This maybe the first time you’ve looked for help, or you may have tried different methods to manage your anxiety before and remained stuck, or after some initial improvement you found yourself bogged down with same anxious thoughts and feelings. Anxiety books and methods that promise instant and magical transformations to overcoming anxiety lose their impact when we have to leave our comfort zone and the fairy dust blows away. Whatever the case, you’re probably looking for something that really works, something that is effective, practical, real, and evidence based. There are three main steps in this revolutionary approach and I’ve seen it change people’s lives time and time again. You’re going to learn how to:
Calm the mind
Deal with anxious thoughts and feelings
Take action
So the method goes beyond managing anxiety, it will also help you to become unstuck, build confidence and start REALLY living. In Overcome Anxiety: A Self Help Toolkit for Anxiety Relief and Panic Attacks, university academic and mental health teacher Dr Matt Lewis will take you through a step-by-step programme, using simple but powerful exercises that will take just a few minutes each day, allowing you to start overcoming anxiety, being back in control and able to enjoy life. Providing you with anxiety relief and effective help for panic attacks. Anxiety can make us feel paralysed and sometimes the smallest and quickest of tasks can seem insurmountable, so the information has been reduced into small chunks, using brief chapters that can be digested easily and quickly. The book contains practical exercises in a workbook format, access to audio exercises and online resources, and an end of book project to help put all the learned skills into real life practice. Using referenced scientific and academic research, the book teaches you how to: Understand how and why anxiety develops Develop a mindset that will allow anxiety to work for you Create the foundation for a calm, confident, and peaceful mind Learn to effectively handle anxious thoughts and feelings Tame the voice in your head and reduce anxiety without losing your edge Eliminate and reduce the power of panic attacks Become unstuck and take action to create a fulfilling and meaningful life This book will be helpful for those who struggle with: Anxiety Stress Anxiety Disorder Generalized Anxiety Social Anxiety Panic Attacks Panic Disorder Health Anxiety Hypochondria If you follow the step-by-step programme and practise the exercises in the book, you will start to find that you’ll soon find yourself feeling more peaceful, calm, confident. You will also start to develop the courage to tackle the uncomfortable tasks and situations that you’ve been avoiding, and also taking action on the things that you’ve wanted to do but been too anxious to try. The exercises are practical, effective, and simple to follow.
Change Your Posture, Change Your Life: How the Power of the Alexander Technique Can Combat Back Pain, Tension and Stress
Richard Brennan - 2011
In chapters ranging from 'The Secret Key to Good Posture' and 'The Hidden Obstacle to Improving Posture' to 'Your Inner Acrobat' and 'First Steps in Releasing Muscle Tension', Richard Brennan examines every aspect of the technique and how it can benefit everyone, young and old. This book will appeal to the many millions of parents and teachers who are increasingly concerned about the rapid deterioration of the posture of their children, who are frequently hunched over desks and computers, as well as their own posture. It will also be of great value to doctors, consultants and physiotherapists, who already realise that posture is a crucial factor in most healthcare, plus those in physical education (including yoga and pilates), all types of sports and the martial arts. And last but not least, the book will be of priceless value to all those who suffer from a wide range of muscular-skeletal problems, including arthritis, backache and headaches, as well as a whole range of other common ailments.With more and more people becoming aware of the role that good posture plays in treating ill health, this is the perfect introduction to implementing its benefits into your own life.
The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View
Laura A. King - 2007
This book is built around the idea that students must study the discipline of psychology as a whole, that the sub-disciplines are intricately connected, and that human behavior is best understood by exploring its functioning state in addition to its potential dysfunctions.
Plant Tribe: Living Happily Ever After with Plants
Igor Josifovic - 2020
Aimed at a wider audience than typical houseplant books, each chapter combines easily digestible plant knowledge, style guidance via real home interiors, and inspiring advice for using plants to increase energy, creativity, and well-being and to attract love and prosperity. Also included: real-world @urbanjungleblog followers’ FAQs; a section on plants and pets; and plant care for the different stages of a houseplant’s life. The focus is on using plants to raise the positive energy of every room in the house and to live happily ever after with plants.
No Impact Man
Colin Beavan - 2009
And that’s just the beginning. Bill McKibben meets Bill Bryson in this seriously engaging look at one man’s decision to put his money where his mouth is and go off the grid for one year—while still living in New York City—to see if it’s possible to make no net impact on the environment. In other words, no trash, no toxins in the water, no elevators, no subway, no products in packaging, no air-conditioning, no television . . .What would it be like to try to live a no-impact lifestyle? Is it possible? Could it catch on? Is living this way more satisfying or less satisfying? Harder or easier? Is it worthwhile or senseless? Are we all doomed or can our culture reduce the barriers to sustainable living so it becomes as easy as falling off a log? These are the questions at the heart of this whole mad endeavor, via which Colin Beavan hopes to explain to the rest of us how we can realistically live a more “eco-effective” and by turns more content life in an age of inconvenient truths.
The Little Book of Emotional Intelligence: How to flourish in a crazy world
Andy Cope - 2016
Funny, colourful and profound, this book is a gripping manual for the human mind, enabling you to understand and control your emotions, communicate better and live a happier, more balanced life.
Science(ish): The Peculiar Science Behind the Movies
Rick Edwards - 2017
Inspired by their award-winning podcast, this popular (hopefully) science (definitely) book dedicates each chapter to a different sci-fi classic, and wittily explores the fascinating issues that arise. Covering movies from 28 Days Later to Ex Machina, this is a joyous ride through astrophysics, neuroscience, psychology, botany, artificial intelligence, evolution, and plenty more subjects you've always wanted to grasp. Now's your chance: stylishly designed and illustrated throughout, Science(ish) is the perfect gift for every curious mind.
Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That'll Improve and/or Ruin Everything
Kelly Weinersmith - 2017
By weaving together their own research, interviews with pioneering scientists and Zach's trademark comics, the Weinersmiths investigate why these innovations are needed, how they would work, and what is standing in their way.