The Wizard and the Prophet: Two Remarkable Scientists and Their Dueling Visions to Shape Tomorrow's World


Charles C. Mann - 2018
    Can our world support that? What kind of world will it be? Those answering these questions generally fall into two deeply divided groups--Wizards and Prophets, as Charles Mann calls them in this balanced, authoritative, nonpolemical new book. The Prophets, he explains, follow William Vogt, a founding environmentalist who believed that in using more than our planet has to give, our prosperity will lead us to ruin. Cut back! was his mantra. Otherwise everyone will lose! The Wizards are the heirs of Norman Borlaug, whose research, in effect, wrangled the world in service to our species to produce modern high-yield crops that then saved millions from starvation. Innovate! was Borlaug's cry. Only in that way can everyone win! Mann delves into these diverging viewpoints to assess the four great challenges humanity faces--food, water, energy, climate change--grounding each in historical context and weighing the options for the future. With our civilization on the line, the author's insightful analysis is an essential addition to the urgent conversation about how our children will fare on an increasingly crowded Earth.

Dreamland: The True Tale of America's Opiate Epidemic


Sam Quinones - 2015
    Communities where heroin had never been seen before—from Charlotte, NC and Huntington, WVA, to Salt Lake City and Portland, OR—were overrun with it. Local police and residents were stunned. How could heroin, long considered a drug found only in the dense, urban environments along the East Coast, and trafficked into the United States by enormous Colombian drug cartels, be so incredibly ubiquitous in the American heartland? Who was bringing it here, and perhaps more importantly, why were so many townspeople suddenly eager for the comparatively cheap high it offered?With the same dramatic drive of El Narco and Methland, Sam Quinones weaves together two classic tales of American capitalism: The stories of young men in Mexico, independent of the drug cartels, in search of their own American Dream via the fast and enormous profits of trafficking cheap black-tar heroin to America’s rural and suburban addicts; and that of Purdue Pharma in Stamford, Connecticut, determined to corner the market on pain with its new and expensive miracle drug, Oxycontin; extremely addictive in its own right. Quinones illuminates just how these two stories fit together as cause and effect: hooked on costly Oxycontin, American addicts were lured to much cheaper black tar heroin and its powerful and dangerous long-lasting high. Embroiled alongside the suppliers and buyers are DEA agents, local, small-town sheriffs, and the US attorney from eastern Virginia whose case against Purdue Pharma and Oxycontin made him an enemy of the Bush-era Justice Department, ultimately stalling and destroying his career in public service.Dreamland is a scathing and incendiary account of drug culture and addiction spreading to every part of the American landscape.

Boundless: Upgrade Your Brain, Optimize Your Body Defy Aging


Ben Greenfield - 2020
     To catapult you down the path of maximizing cognition, mental clarity, and IQ, you will discover: How to rewire your skull’s supercomputer (& 9 ways to fix your neurotransmitters) The 12 best ways to heal a leaky brain 8 proven methods to banish stress and kiss high cortisol goodbye 10 foods that break your brain, and how to eat yourself smart How to safely utilize nootropics and smart drugs, along with 8 of the best brain-boosting supplement stacks and psychedelics The top nutrient for brain health that you probably aren’t getting enough of 6 ways to upgrade your brain using biohacking gear, games, and tools How to exercise the cells of your nervous system using technology and modern science Easy ways to train your brain for power, speed, and longevity The ultimate guide to optimizing your sleep, maximizing mental recovery, and stopping jet lag To ensure that you look good naked and live a long time, you will learn: 6 ways to get quick, powerful muscles (& why bigger muscles aren’t better) How to burn fat fast without destroying your body The fitness secrets of 6 of the fittest old people on the planet The best training program for maximizing muscle gain and fat loss at the same time One simple tactic for staying lean year-round with minimal effort A step-by-step system for figuring out exactly which foods to eat 14 ways to build an unstoppable immune system Little-known tactics, tips, and tricks for recovering from workouts with lightning speed The best tools for biohacking your body at home and on the road How to eat, train, and live for optimal symmetry and beauty (& how to raise kids with superhuman bodies and brains) And to help you live a fulfilling and happy life, you will learn: 12 techniques to heal your body using your own internal pharmacy What the single most powerful emotion is and how to tap into it every day 4 of the best ways to heal your body and spirit using sounds and vibrations 6 ways to enhance your life and longevity with love, friendships, and lasting relationships How to biohack the bedroom for better sex and longer orgasms, and the top libido-enhancing herbs, supplements, and strategies The perfect morning, afternoon, and evening routines for enhancing sleep, productivity, and overall happiness 28 ways to combine ancestral wisdom and modern science to enhance longevity, including the best foods, herbs, supplements, injections, medical treatments, biohacks, fasting strategies, and much more The 4 hidden variables that can make or break your mind, body, and spirit The exercise that will change your life forever (& how to reverse-engineer your perfect day) Boundless guides you every step of the way to becoming an expert in what makes your brain tick, your body work, and your spirit happy. You can flip open the book to any chapter and discover research-proven, trench-tested techniques to build muscle, burn fat, live longer, have mind-blowing sex, raise robust children, and much, much more!

Unthinkable: What the World's Most Extraordinary Brains Can Teach Us About Our Own


Helen Thomson - 2018
    We take for granted that we can remember, feel emotion, navigate, empathize, and understand the world around us, but how would our lives change if these abilities were dramatically enhanced--or disappeared overnight?Helen Thomson has spent years traveling the world, tracking down incredibly rare brain disorders. In Unthinkable she tells the stories of nine extraordinary people she encountered along the way. From the man who thinks he's a tiger to the doctor who feels the pain of others just by looking at them to a woman who hears music that’s not there, their experiences illustrate how the brain can shape our lives in unexpected and, in some cases, brilliant and alarming ways.Story by remarkable story, Unthinkable takes us on an unforgettable journey through the human brain. Discover how to forge memories that never disappear, how to grow an alien limb, and how to make better decisions. Learn how to hallucinate and how to make yourself happier in a split second. Find out how to avoid getting lost, how to see more of your reality, even how exactly you can confirm you are alive. Think the unthinkable.