Future Books

Includes lots of informtion that I either didn't know or hadn't considered. Informative, conversation-starting & new-age information!

Insightful, informative and timely assessment of one of the most important issues of our time.

Andrew Bosworth exposes the insanity of the over-medicated, genetically-modified, hyper-sexualized, country in which we live. So insane, it seems, that we don't even notice... we've been in the rabbit hole all along.

Think government regulation of food and drugs is there to protect you and your family? Think again. Pesticides classified as known carcinogens slip through the EPA because cost saving benefits to growers outweigh the dangers to humans.

Long gone are the days of Teddy Roosevelt, pushing through legislation to protect consumers from the ways of the meat-packing industry. Advances in health and science in the hands of drug companies and agro-business are only making us sicker.

The wall between government and the industries they regulate is a complete facade and we are paying with our health.

Far from being preachy, Bosworth merely lays out the facts - albeit, in gasp-inducing morsels of evidence. I found myself following my husband around the house reading aloud in exasperation at the amount of information that goes completely unreported in the corporate "mainstream" media on the topic.

To name a few:

- Fox News actually fired a reporter for refusing to falsify her thorough and accurate report linking Bovine Growth Hormone in dairy products and illness. (on a side note, the court actually reversed her $425K award for wrongful termination - the judge said that Fox's forcing her to lie in a news report was not actually illegal. How's that for government complicity??)

- Big Pharma spends 2-3 times as much on marketing and executive salaries than they do on R&D. (Why develop drugs for a variety of different symptoms, when you can just convince customers that they all have the same ailment?)

- One of the 100 legally binding orders the American government foisted on the Iraqi people? The Iraqi farmers must buy terminator seeds (seeds that cannot be replanted) from American agro-businesses like Monsanto and cannot compete with their own seed - seed they've been maintaining for a thousands of years.

Those who listen to "Democracy Now" and other independent media sources can quickly distinguish between real journalism and the press-releases that pass for news in the "mainstream" media. It's books like Biotech Empire that help the truth get through the noise. I'd definitely recommend reading it, and spreading the word.

Whether read by a person of faith or one simply struggling with the pain and questions of death, this is a book filled with comforting and uplifting wisdom shared through anecdotes, scriptures and thoughtful insights. There ARE answers to some of life's deepest questions.

Excellent book for those who are grieving and for those who simply want an excellent book to read!

Every person born into this mortal existance will some day experience death. Most experience the emotional trauma of losing a loved one. I first read this book some twenty years ago. I have since referred to it several times to remind myself of the simple and comforting message of death being simply a birth into another existance of life we call immortality. With the understanding that death is not the end, there comes before us all a hope of the future. Sorrow, or mourning is but an expression of love. This book will enlighten that understanding, give clearer purpose to life, the value of death, and the hope for eternal life through the process of the resurrection. The book gives critical insight into the age old questions of "Where did we come from?, Why are we here?, and Where are we going? Pondering the messages of hope and understanding will give a sense of peace and purpose to the value and meaning of mortality and immortality. Since all have been born into this world and all must someday exit this earthly life, it bears reason to better understand the purpose of life as so beautifully described in "The Birth That We Call Death" The book compares exceptionally well with "The Gateway We Call Death", by Russell M Nelson, but more clearly and concisely focuses upon the critical questions as described above. Both give excellent examples of the purpose of life as defined by the meaning of death, now seen more clearly as an open door to life eternal.

This book is a wonderful resource for anyone who is interested in photography. I learned how to tave a variety of photographs and the history of photography.

This book is an excellent history of photography. It is not a book of "how-to". If you are looking for a concise and readable history, this is a good start.

What could be better than a book from the National Geographic Society that shows photos and how to take them? Great for a photography buff, or a magazine fan.

Brazilian Science Fiction: Cultural Myths And Nationhood In The Land Of The Future is an in-depth discussion of Brazillian science fiction and what it has to tell us about Brazilian culture and society by Professor of Portuguese and Brazilian literature M. Elizabeth Ginway. Chapters examine the cross-narrative icons of the robot, the alien, the spaceship, and the wasteland; dystopian science fiction; reflections on the changing roles of women; and influences of the post-dictatorship Brazilian generation and its delvings into "hard" SF, cyberpunk, alien encounters, alternate histories and parallel universes, and more. Black-and-white photographs of science fiction book covers illustrate this thoughtful and thorough examination which is especially recommended for academic library literary studies collections.

Ginway has been in Brazil several times since 2000 in preparation for this book, and she has read more Brazilian SF than most Brazilian readers.

Ginway is a "Brazilianist," a scholar of Brazilian history and culture, and in her remarkable book she employs techniques of cultural criticism to explore what some 50 years of local science fiction has to say about Brazil's cultural myths in relation to technology and modernization in that country, most of it ocurred during and troubled by a military dictatorship (1964-1985). Ecofeminist theory is among her approaches, along with Gary K. Wolfe's technique of symbol reading present in his book "The Known and the Unknown: The Iconography of Science Fiction." A certain comparative stance arises when she contrasts Brazilian myths embedded in Brazilian SF, with American myths present in American SF.

Ginway refrains from making literary criticism--judgements on literary values and accomplishments regarding the works she analises.

The book was called "fascinating" by Charles N. Brown, the editor of "Locus--The Newspaper of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Field," which has included Ginways study in its recommended list for 2005 (making it elegible for the Locus Award for best non-fiction book).

Let me say that *Brazilian Science Fiction* transcends its subject in the way that its attentive reading may reveal a device that would allow one to understand how other Third World of even Eastern Europe science fictions are much closer to their cultures than it was once supposed. One would need, of course, to have a strong familiarity and understanding of that culture in order to see how even the most comomplace SF icons--such as the robot, the starship, the alien--can be revealing of the heart and soul of that culture, even when its science fiction seems to be superficially imitative of Anglo-American SF.

A book that can work as a telescope to makes us see global SF in quite a different way.

This is a book to keep and read every once in a while, just to make sure that there are people in Brazil who produce good literary SF.

From the early works of the XIX Century to the Cyberpunk and Alternate History of the new millenium, Ginway built a very clever and well researched book about the few writers who dare to write about the future and the space in a country where the past is still present.

How to tame a land, how to built its destiny if the high technology is for a few? How to imagine and elaborate the growth of a Nation if our people is still chained by analphabetism? How to be a Portuguese spoken country and, at the same time, wish for the stars?

Yes, there is a Brazilian Science Fiction. And is plural, original, strong and juicy. Sometimes it's even very good. Most of the times.

You definetly must try it.

In anticipating the future, three things generally fascinate & intrigue me, & they are: Change, Complexity & Competition. Hence, I am always seeking better understanding - & appreciation - of these critical areas of concern.

In the search of books & resources, I have come across many excellent authors or masters. I have already featured a few in my earlier posts.

In this post, I would like to review one original, thought provoking book, written with warm, passion & clarity as well as mastery of content.

Actually, I had read `Breakpoint & Beyond' during the mid-nineties, when it was first published. At that time, I had just embarked on a journey to play a better game in the second half of my life.

Oftentimes, I have returned to the book to read certain earmarked pages.

In a nut shell, it weaved a compelling story about change by focusing a new & penetrating lens on the master teacher of change, Mother Nature herself. The authors asserted that understanding the invisible forces of natural change would uncover the hidden patterns that could unlock our potential as individuals & organisations.

The authors also showed that natural growth was characterised by long periods of stability, punctuated by "breakpoints" - bursts of explosive change & showed how we could take advantage of the tremendous opportunities that would arise during these exciting periods.

Amidst the somewhat lofty rhetoric - the book was rather heavy to read - I would like to single out one principle from the book - the Principle of Future Pull.

According to the authors, every single cell in a tree, in a caterpillar, or in a human being would grow & develop not based on its history but by being pulled toward in its internal picture of the possible future. That future was inscribed in the DNA, the genes that reside in the nucleus of every cell. That way, every part of the system could pull together toward the common future.

In human terms, this would translate into living with a powerful vision of the future. A compelling vision could pull individuals & organisations to their desired future.

Let me share some of the authors' ideas of doing it.

Know your purpose & vision:

Purpose can be defined as how an individual & organisation makes the world a better place. A vision is a compelling image or picture o the purpose having been achieved.

The book gave this example: Landing a man on the moon in a decade was the vision that President John Kennedy held out as an inspiring magnet pulling an entire nation to develop the technological capability for manned space flights.

Purpose & vision are as important for individuals as they are for organisations.

A compelling purpose energises life. Without a compelling purpose, we live life as a fairly haphazard experience, being easily swayed by the latest fad, temporary pressures, or the most recent advice on what others think we ought to be doing with our lives.

Commit to achieve your vision & purpose:

When an organisation lacks a compelling purpose, its people cannot helped but be uninspired. The book gave an example of the late Anita Roddick & the Body Shop, whose concerns for the environment & the people still infuse the enterprise.

Abundance is Mother Nature's state:

Abundance comes to those who have the courage to follow their dreams. This brings not only material abundance but connection with the opportunities that are vital to the full expression of one's talents.

Today thousands of people are doing what they love to do in the most unlikely occupations & making an excellent living.

No one with a compelling purpose & a great vision knows exactly how it will be achieved. You have to be willing to follow an unknown path, allowing the road to take you where it will. Surprise, serendipity, uncertainty, & the unexpected are guaranteed on the way to the future.

Make the world a better place by living according to shared values:

Values are often thought of as soft stuff of an organisation, something that goes on a bronze plaque in the lobby. Somehow the values get separated from how the business really runs. Inevitable, employee & customer s know it.

The purpose & values are the heart of the vision that will pull organisations into their future. These ingredients provide the essential elements of successful self-creation: the picture of that future whole. It is the internal guidance system, the DNA that allows everything to work together. The purpose, vision & values furnish the internal reference point for making choices & connections in a complex & rapidly changing world. They endow the individual & organisation with direction to be pulled into the future.

With a little bit of hindsight, I am very glad I had made full use of many of the authors' ideas in my own life.

If you are concerned about your own personal change & renewal, you must read this book. It will help you to think about your life -& to stay vital all your life.

An extremely important book. Packed with the best insights from our greatest minds. Revamps many firmly held beliefs regarding the principals of 'Change'. Especially powerful information for leaders, teachers, and business people.

Many books tell us things are changing, but this is best one I've read that explores change itself. Change happens constantly, yet the "rules" underlying change are poorly understood. Land and Jarman meet this challenge with examples from the sciences, business, and individual lives.
A central point of this book is that all systems go through distinct phases of change. These phases are visible in rocks and relationships; they govern the behavior of crystals and families and galaxies. Each phase has its own rules for success. This book maps out the phases of change, teaches you how to tell "where the system is", and most importantly, how to adopt strategies that work in the current set of rules.
A must-read for executive leadership, this book has been indispensible in helping organizations understand and implement the process of transformative change.

I'm an occupational therapist and have taken entire courses in sensory integration that were not as clear and helpful with ideas as this book.

This is a great book for any parent with an autistic child. Occupational therapist use this book them selves. The book gives good fundamental info on sensory issues and provides good strategies on how to help your child. Outstanding book

As an occupational therapist, I love this book for the suggestions it provides to the very practical everyday difficulties parents face when their child has sensory integration issues. To me, the only downfall is that it refers to children with autism so much. I have used it with any child with sensory integration difficulties, but have had to create my own handouts based on the book to avoid offending parents whose children are clearly not autistic. It addresses things like brushing teeth, getting to and staying asleep, and problem behaviors like biting, hitting, and so much more.

This book has changed my life. It serves as a daily guide for how to think and execute in life.

This is a-must-read book for everybody who wants to find meaning and value in life, and to make quality decisions today for a better tomorrow.

This book provides a response to why some individuals and institutions who operate within similar environments end up with different outcomes. It uses an old case study from the familiar biblical narrative of Jacob and Esau to draw very compelling guidelines for how life must be conducted to yield benefits to us.
It is a book for anyone seeking for a better life and a more enjoyable future

Christine Pelosi has written a primer on How To Run. (Also, on how NOT to run, when that's the right thing to do.) She's got the background and experience to know the lessons of how to go about running for office, the first-hand experience of training people to do it, and a wealth of voices who back up her practical advice with their first-hand stories of why they ran and what they learned. Practical. Solid. Essential for the first-time campaigner, the twenty-year incumbent, the journalist, and the woman on the street who wants to get an understanding of How It All Works.

Look here! Christine Pelosi is someone who has been getting dirt under her fingernails in grassroots politics since she was in the stroller. "Boot Camp" is not the result of just another pundit or academic writing about politics. Christine really gives you both the promise and blessings of fighting for something you believe in while she also tells the truth about the planning and hard work it takes to succeed. She should know because there are at least three generations of Pelosi's who have risen to the top of the political ladder -- a grandfather who was mayor of Baltimore, a mother who is Speaker of the U.S. House, and herself as a 10-year elected veteran of the Democratic National Committee from California. Practical is what the Pelosis know and live; commitment to cause is what fuels them.

Anyone who wants to win an issue or office should put this on their early reading list.

Step aside, Colbert - Christine Pelosi has a real strategy for running for office, and anyone, she says, can do it. I listened to Pelosi on the radio the other day and she was so exciting, I checked out her book the same afternoon. She makes practical and worthwhile suggestions for being politically active - and her advice is valuable for anyone. I'm just a copy editor but I feel like even Clinton's senior staffers could learn a thing or three from "Campaign Boot Camp."

These messages have given real and tangible impetus to my spiritual development through their simple clarity and focus on the essential nature of prayer.

Over the many years I've spent researching various spiritual and religious texts I have come across many enlightened passages pointing to the truth. When I discovered these messages compiled in "Celestial Messages", I realized that they were full of truths - soaked with truths. There is not a more important book in my library.

I can honestly say that reading this book has changed my life. The awareness that the Celestial Messages bring allows me to more fully experience my life here and a calmness and anticipation about the afterlife. The work of the angels in "Celestial Messages" is unparalleled in human history. Nowhere on earth can one find truths which unite the mind with the spirit in such glorious detail. If you have been fortunate enough to come across this book, it is because you have been called. Listen to the message. If you read only one book from cover to cover this year, make it this one - it is a true present to your soul.

Of all the new breed of humanist business books, only this one nails the genre's essential message so succinctly.

1. Evolution is the only business

2. Life is the only customer

3. Community is the only profit

4. Love is the only future

Kudos to Jaccaci and Gault. Heart felt and extraordinary.

Of all the new breed of humanist business books, only this one nails the genre's essential message so succinctly.

1. Evolution is the only business

2. Life is the only customer

3. Community is the only profit

4. Love is the only future

Kudos to Jaccaci and Gault. Heart felt and extraordinary.

I liked this book because it allows the readers to map all aspects of the future - especially business. The basic thesis states that compassion and empathy will be required to do business in the next millennium. Although this may seem contrary to the current "Greed is Good" school of thought, the authors show that paradigm shifts will force businesses to change their focus. A very practical book as well.