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The end of everything: (astrophysically speaking)
Par Katie Mack. 2020
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2020 NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY * THE WASHINGTON POST…
* THE ECONOMIST * NEW SCIENTIST * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY * THE GUARDIAN "A thrilling tour of potential cosmic doomsdays....Mack's infectious enthusiasm for communicating the finer points of cosmological doom elevates The End of Everything over any other book on the topic. " — The Wall Street Journal " I found it helpful—not reassuring, certainly, but mind-expanding—to be reminded of our place in a vast cosmos." —James Gleick, The New York Times Book Review From one of the most dynamic rising stars in astrophysics, an accessible and eye-opening look at five ways the universe could end, and the mind-blowing lessons each scenario reveals about the most important concepts in cosmology. We know the universe had a beginning. With the Big Bang, it expanded from a state of unimaginable density to an all-encompassing cosmic fireball to a simmering fluid of matter and energy, laying down the seeds for everything from black holes to one rocky planet orbiting a star near the edge of a spiral galaxy that happened to develop life as we know it. But what happens to the universe at the end of the story? And what does it mean for us now? Dr. Katie Mack has been contemplating these questions since she was a young student, when her astronomy professor informed her the universe could end at any moment, in an instant. This revelation set her on the path toward theoretical astrophysics. Now, with lively wit and humor, she takes us on a mind-bending tour through five of the cosmos's possible finales: the Big Crunch, Heat Death, the Big Rip, Vacuum Decay (the one that could happen at any moment!), and the Bounce. Guiding us through cutting-edge science and major concepts in quantum mechanics, cosmology, string theory, and much more, The End of Everything is a wildly fun, surprisingly upbeat ride to the farthest reaches of all that we knowLet the lord sort them: The rise and fall of the death penalty
Par Maurice Chammah. 2021
A deeply reported, searingly honest portrait of the death penalty in Texas—and what it tells us about crime and punishment…
in America &“Remarkably intimate, fair-minded, and trustworthy reporting on the people arguing over the fate of human life.&”—Robert Kolker, New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family WINNER OF THE J. ANTHONY LUKAS WORK-IN-PROGRESS AWARD In 1972, the United States Supreme Court made a surprising ruling: the country's death penalty system violated the Constitution. The backlash was swift, especially in Texas, where executions were considered part of the cultural fabric, and a dark history of lynching was masked by gauzy visions of a tough-on-crime frontier. When executions resumed, Texas quickly became the nationwide leader in carrying out the punishment. Then, amid a larger wave of criminal justice reform, came the death penalty&’s decline, a trend so durable that even in Texas the punishment appears again close to extinction. In Let the Lord Sort Them, Maurice Chammah charts the rise and fall of capital punishment through the eyes of those it touched. We meet Elsa Alcala, the orphaned daughter of a Mexican American family who found her calling as a prosecutor in the nation's death penalty capital, before becoming a judge on the state's highest court. We meet Danalynn Recer, a lawyer who became obsessively devoted to unearthing the life stories of men who committed terrible crimes, and fought for mercy in courtrooms across the state. We meet death row prisoners—many of them once-famous figures like Henry Lee Lucas, Gary Graham, and Karla Faye Tucker—along with their families and the families of their victims. And we meet the executioners, who struggle openly with what society has asked them to do. In tracing these interconnected lives against the rise of mass incarceration in Texas and the country as a whole, Chammah explores what the persistence of the death penalty tells us about forgiveness and retribution, fairness and justice, history and myth. Written with intimacy and grace, Let the Lord Sort Them is the definitive portrait of a particularly American institutionAccessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military
Par Avis Lang, Neil DeGrasse Tyson. 2019
“Extraordinary.… A feast of history, an expert tour through thousands of years of war and conquest.” —Jennifer Carson, New York…
Times Book Review In this far-reaching foray into the millennia-long relationship between science and military power, acclaimed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-author Avis Lang examine how the methods and tools of astrophysics have been enlisted in the service of war. Spanning early celestial navigation to satellite-enabled warfare, Accessory to War is a richly researched and provocative examination of the intersection of science, technology, industry, and power that will introduce Tyson’s millions of fans to yet another dimension of how the universe has shaped our lives and our world.Haben: The deafblind woman who conquered harvard law
Par Haben Girma. 2019
This is the incredible life story of Haben Girma, the first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School, and her amazing…
journey from isolation to the world stage. Haben grew up spending summers with her family in the enchanting Eritrean city of Asmara. There, she discovered courage as she faced off against a bull she couldn't see, and found in herself an abiding strength as she absorbed her parents' harrowing experiences during Eritrea's thirty-year war with Ethiopia. Their refugee story inspired her to embark on a quest for knowledge, traveling the world in search of the secret to belonging. She explored numerous fascinating places, including Mali, where she helped build a school under the scorching Saharan sun. Her many adventures over the years range from the hair-raising to the hilarious. Haben defines disability as an opportunity for innovation. She learned nonvisual techniques for everything from dancing salsa to handling an electric saw. She developed a text-to-braille communication system that created an exciting new way to connect with people. Haben pioneered her way through obstacles, graduated from Harvard Law School, and now uses her talents to advocate for people with disabilities. Haben takes listeners through a thrilling game of blind hide-and-seek in Louisiana, a treacherous climb up an iceberg in Alaska, and a magical moment with President Obama at the White House. Warm, funny, thoughtful, and uplifting, this captivating memoir is a testament to one woman's determination to find the keys to connectionThe price of justice: money, morals and ethical reform in the law
Par Ronald L Goldfarb. 2020
Justice reform has become an increasingly present topic in the news and media, with movements like "I Can't Breathe" and…
Black Lives Matter prompting national outcry from the public over the unethical actions of law enforcement, and it remains one of the most controversial and highly debated issues for politicians and citizens today. With more than two million Americans incarcerated, it is beyond apparent that the justice system intrinsically ensures that lower-income people and minorities are shockingly underrepresented and offered little to no legal protection. In The Price of Justice, Goldfarb uses powerful testimonies, media evidence, and first-hand expertise from working in the Justice Department as a longtime public-interest lawyer to reveal how both the criminal and civil justice systems fail to serve lower and middle-class citizens and makes an undeniable case for the profound justice reform that is so desperately needed. Goldfarb asks that we examine closely a legal system that has become largely pay-to-play, benefiting the administrators and those wealthy citizens who can afford to "lawyer up," and shows little mercy for the lower-income citizens who fall victim to an endless cycle of conviction, fines, bail, lack of counsel, and capital punishment. Goldfarb exposes a system that values money over ethics and lawyers who value winning cases over finding truth and serving justice, pointing out that civil aid and public defenders are grossly understaffed and underfinanced, making it nearly impossible to meet the challenges of well-paid private lawyersGenesis: The story of how everything began
Par Guido Tonelli. 2021
A breakout bestseller in Italy, now available for American listeners for the first time, Genesis: The Story of How Everything…
Began is a short, humanistic tour of the origins of the universe, earth, and life—drawing on the latest discoveries in physics to explain the seven most significant moments in the creation of the cosmos. Curiosity and wonderment about the origins of the universe are at the heart of our experience of the world. From Hesiod's Chaos, described in his poem about the origins of the Greek gods, Theogony, to today's mind-bending theories of the multiverse, humans have been consumed by the relentless pursuit of an answer to one awe inspiring question: What exactly happened during those first moments? Guido Tonelli, the acclaimed, award-winning particle physicist and a central figure in the discovery of the Higgs boson (the "God particle"), reveals the extraordinary story of our genesis—from the origins of the universe, to the emergence of life on Earth, to the birth of human language with its power to describe the world. Evoking the seven days of biblical creation, Tonelli takes us on a brisk, lively tour through the evolution of our cosmos and considers the incredible challenges scientists face in exploring its mysteries. Genesis both explains the fundamental physics of our universe and marvels at the profound wonder of our existence. A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and GirouxThe god equation: The quest for a theory of everything
Par Michio Kaku. 2021
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The epic story of the greatest quest in all of science—the holy grail of physics…
that would explain the creation of the universe—from renowned theoretical physicist and author of The Future of the Mind and The Future of Humanity When Newton discovered the law of gravity, he unified the rules governing the heavens and the Earth. Since then, physicists have been placing new forces into ever-grander theories. But perhaps the ultimate challenge is achieving a monumental synthesis of the two remaining theories—relativity and the quantum theory. This would be the crowning achievement of science, a profound merging of all the forces of nature into one beautiful, magnificent equation to unlock the deepest mysteries in science: What happened before the Big Bang? What lies on the other side of a black hole? Are there other universes and dimensions? Is time travel possible? Why are we here? Kaku also explains the intense controversy swirling around this theory, with Nobel laureates taking opposite sides on this vital question. It is a captivating, gripping story; what&’s at stake is nothing less than our conception of the universe. Written with Kaku&’s trademark enthusiasm and clarity, this epic and engaging journey is the story of The God EquationThirteen: The apollo flight that failed
Par Henry S.F. Cooper. 2021
On the evening of April 13, 1970, the three astronauts aboard Apollo 13 were just hours from the third lunar…
landing in history. But as they soared through space, two hundred thousand miles from Earth, an explosion badly damaged their spacecraft. With compromised engines and failing life-support systems, the crew was in incomparably grave danger. Faced with below-freezing temperatures, a seriously ill crewmember, and a dwindling water supply, a safe return seemed unlikely. Thirteen is the shocking and miraculous true story of how the astronauts and ground crew guided Apollo 13 back to Earth. Expanding on dispatches written for The New Yorker , Henry S. F. Cooper Jr. brings listeners unparalleled detail on the moment-by-moment developments of one of NASA's most dramatic missionsHelgoland: Making sense of the quantum revolution
Par Carlo Rovelli. 2021
&“Rovelli is a genius and an amazing communicator… This is the place where science comes to life.&” ― Neil Gaiman…
&“ Helgoland is Rovelli&’s most beautiful yet… Unforgettable.&” ― The London Times A startling new look at quantum theory, from the New York Times bestselling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and The Order of Time . One of the world's most renowned theoretical physicists, Carlo Rovelli has entranced millions of readers with his singular perspective on the cosmos. In Helgoland , he examines the enduring enigma of quantum theory. The quantum world Rovelli describes is as beautiful as it is unnerving. Helgoland is a treeless island in the North Sea where the twenty-three-year-old Werner Heisenberg made the crucial breakthrough for the creation of quantum mechanics, setting off a century of scientific revolution. Full of alarming ideas (ghost waves, distant objects that seem to be magically connected, cats that appear both dead and alive), quantum physics has led to countless discoveries and technological advancements. Today our understanding of the world is based on this theory, yet it is still profoundly mysterious. As scientists and philosophers continue to fiercely debate the meaning of the theory, Rovelli argues that its most unsettling contradictions can be explained by seeing the world as fundamentally made of relationships rather than substances. We and everything around us exist only in our interactions with one another. This bold idea suggests new directions for thinking about the structure of reality and even the nature of consciousness. Rovelli makes learning about quantum mechanics an almost psychedelic experience. Shifting our perspective once again, he takes us on a riveting journey through the universe so we can better comprehend our place in itBeverley McLachlin: The Legacy of a Supreme Court Chief Justice
Par Ian Greene, Peter McCormick. 2019
The Moment: Standing Up to Bill Cosby, Speaking Up for Women
Par Andrea Constand. 2021
An inspiring story of resilience and bravery by the woman who became the linchpin of the case to bring Bill…
Cosby to justice. Andrea Constand did the right thing, not just for herself, but for more than sixty other women.When Bill Cosby was convicted on three counts of aggravated indecent assault in 2018, the verdict sent shock waves around the globe. Some were outraged that a beloved icon of family values, the man dubbed "America's dad," had been accused, let alone convicted. Others were stunned because they had waited so long to see justice; in accusations going back decades, more than sixty women recounted how they'd been drugged, raped, and assaulted at Cosby's hands. Andrea Constand is just one of these women, but her case could still be criminally prosecuted. Constand's legal marathon required her to endure an excruciating civil suit, and two harrowing criminal trials. It was her deep sense of personal and social responsibility, fostered by her close-knit immigrant family and values earned through team sports, that gave her the courage to testify at the criminal trial--something she agreed to do not for herself, but for the more than sixty other women whose stories would never be told in court. Ultimately, Constand's testimony brought a powerful man to account. Cosby spent nearly three years in prison before his conviction was overturned on a procedural technicality in June 2021. In The Moment, Constand opens up about the emotional and spiritual work she did to recover from the assault and the psychological regimen she developed to strengthen herself. She also gained a new understanding of the resiliency of human spirit, and the affirming knowledge that stepping up and doing the right thing, even when the outcome is uncertain, is the surest path to true healing. From the woman who has been called "the true hero of #MeToo," The Moment is a memoir about the moment a life changes, as hers did when she was assaulted; about the moment, nearly a decade later, when she stood up for victims without a voice and put herself through an arduous criminal trial; and about the cultural moment, signified by the #MeToo movement, that made justice and accountability possible. A portion of the author’s proceeds of The Moment will go to the Hope, Healing and Transformation foundation. https://hopehealing.caPlaying dead: a journey through the world of death fraud
Par Elizabeth Greenwood. 2016
Exploration of the practice of faking death. Discusses reasons people may contemplate and go through with it, techniques for accomplishing…
it, and demographic breakdowns of those most likely to attempt it. Includes profiles of people who have faked their deaths. 2016The internationalists: how a radical plan to outlaw war remade the world
Par Scott J. Shapiro, Oona A. Hathaway. 2017
A history of a movement among world leaders to outlaw war, including the signing of a treaty known as the…
Peace Pact in 1928. Within a decade, however, every signing country was at war. The authors argue for the value and lasting impact of the movement despite its apparent failure. 2017Letters of Note: Space (Letters of Note)
Par Shaun Usher. 2021
An awe-inspiring collection of letters on the subject of outer space curated by the founder of the phenomenally popular Letters…
of Note website. The first volume in the bestselling Letters of Note series was a collection of hundreds of the world's most entertaining, inspiring, and unusual letters, based on the seismically popular website of the same name--an online museum of correspondence visited by over 70 million people. From Virginia Woolf's heartbreaking suicide letter, to Queen Elizabeth II's recipe for drop scones sent to President Eisenhower; from the first recorded use of the expression 'OMG' in a letter to Winston Churchill, to Gandhi's appeal for calm to Hitler; and from Iggy Pop's beautiful letter of advice to a troubled young fan, to Leonardo da Vinci's remarkable job application letter. Now, the curator of Letters of Note, Shaun Usher, gives us wonderful new volumes featuring letters organized around a universal theme. In this volume, Shaun Usher turns to the subject of outer space and space travel. Contributors to be confirmed.Maker of patterns: an autobiography through letters
Par Freeman Dyson. 2018
British American theoretical physicist Dyson (born 1923) shares his autobiography through letters he has exchanged over the years, beginning in…
1941 when he attended Trinity College, Cambridge. Includes reminiscences of his work and acquaintance with scientists like Robert Oppenheimer and Richard Feynman. 2018An advocate for criminal justice reform describes his own experience in the Texas criminal system. The father of three discusses…
being wrongly arrested and convicted at twenty-six for a 1992 multiple homicide, spending twelve years on death row, and being exonerated in 2010 after eighteen years of imprisonment. Some strong language. 2018Lost in math: how beauty leads physics astray
Par Sabine Hossenfelder. 2018
Physicist argues against the use of aesthetic criteria when developing and testing theories. Reflects on her career, the historical fascination…
with aesthetics in science, particle physics, meetings with fellow physicists, the difference between math and magic, the search for a unified theory, string theory, and other topics. Strong language. 2018Books, crooks and counselors: how to write accurately about criminal law and courtroom procedure
Par Leslie Budewitz. 2011
Attorney and author presents concepts about the American legal system for people interested in portraying attorneys and criminal law in…
fiction. Topics covered include trial procedures, legal issues in criminal investigations, crimes, punishment, civil matters, terminology, estate planning, legal miscellany, thinking like a lawyer or judge, and legal ethics. 2011Stalking justice: The Dramatic True Story of the Detective Who First Used DNA Testing to Catch a Serial Killer
Par Claire Zion, Paul Mones. 1995
Attorney details the first case in which DNA testing was used to catch a serial killer. When Arlington County detective…
Joe Horgas suspected a murder he was investigating was linked to one four years earlier, the testing of semen stains proved it. Strong language, some violence, and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1995Hate: why we should resist it with free speech, not censorship (Inalienable rights series)
Par Nadine Strossen. 2018
Posits that an expansive interpretation of the First Amendment is the most effective strategy against the "hate speech vs. free…
speech" debate to promote democracy, equality, and societal harmony. Argues that anti-hate speech laws are often counterproductive and lead to suppression of minority viewpoints. Some strong language. 2018