Willa Knox has always prided herself on being the embodiment of responsibility for her family. Which is why it's so unnerving that she's arrived at middle age with nothing to show for her hard work and dedication but a stack of unpaid bills and an inherited brick home in Vineland, New Jersey, that is literally falling apart. The magazine where she worked has folded, and the college where her husband had tenure has closed. The dilapidated house is...

Diamond compares how six countries have survived recent upheavals--ranging from the forced opening of Japan by U.S. Commodore Perry's fleet, to the Soviet Union's attack on Finland, to a murderous coup or countercoup in Chile and Indonesia, to the transformations of Germany and Austria after World War Two. Because Diamond has lived and spoken the language in five of these six countries, he can present gut-wrenching histories experienced firsthand....

A group of aging librarians must decide whether to fight or flee from the end of print and the rise of electronic publications, while the parents of the young girl who died in front of the library struggle with their role in her loss. Anchored by the transposed stories of a photographer and his deaf mathematician lover each mourning the other's death, The Sorrow Proper attempts to illustrate how humans of all relations-—lovers, parents, colleagues—-cope...

"A citizen statesperson is a superpowered individual who is committed to improving his or her community and the world through values and activism. Two dynamics drive the need for citizen statespeople at this moment: 1) loss of confidence in traditional institutions of power, and 2) the technology that contributes to the superpowered individual. Being a citizen statesperson starts at a local level, solving problems for local people. From there, citizen...

Features ideas from women on making things better for themselves, their loved ones, their communities, and the world.

Clear, well-reasoned, accessible, and free of vituperative politics, The Conservative Heart is a welcome new strategy for conservatives looking for fresh, actionable ideas--and for politically independent citizens who believe that neither side is adequately addressing their needs or concerns. --Provided by publisher.

Future Shock is the classic that changed our view of tomorrow. Its startling insights into accelerating change led a president to ask his advisers for a special report, inspired composers to write symphonies and rock music, gave a powerful new concept to social science, and added a phrase to our language ... In many ways, Future Shock is about the present. It is about what is happening today to people and groups who are overwhelmed by change. Change...

Pearl speculates on many of the "could it really happen?" scenarios we've all talked about. He assigns each event a probability rating, and takes us through how it would unfold. The final failure of antibiotics, a complete ban on guns in the US, and even the arrival of aliens-- Pearl provides a clear picture of how the world would look, feel, and even smell in each of these instances. He makes science accessible while offering practical answers to...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming human society in fundamental and profound ways. Not since the Age of Reason have we changed how we approach security, economics, order, and even knowledge itself. In the Age of AI, three deep and accomplished thinkers come together to consider what AI will mean for us all.

Stories of young peacemakers who have addressed problems ranging from hunger to gun violence. Explains strategies young people can use to improve their communities.