A.E.Van Vogt - Soarele subteran

A.E.Van Vogt - Soarele subteran

(1979, ro, 124pg)  

Pământul a ajuns sub stăpânirea blajinilor extratereștrii utt, care au ajuns la concluzia că problemele omenirii sunt cauzate de bărbați. În consecință, ei provoacă miopia tuturor bărbaților și îi obligă pe aceștia să poarte ochelari chimici care îi transformă în ființe pașnice și supuse.

Fizicianul Peter Grayson are un accident în timpul căruia ochelarii îi sunt afectați și, treptat, conștiința masculină se trezește în el. Evenimentele se precipită și, după ce este contactat de un grup care se autointitulează Revoluția, Grayson este arestat. El este închis într-o închisoare subterană în care soarele albastru al planetei utt-ilor este legat printr-o tehnologie necunoscută de planeta Pământ, iar acolo își dă seama că își dă seama că nu dorește nici să mai rămână supus în fața condiționării utt, nici să lupte de partea Revoluției prost organizate.

Folosindu-și cunoștințele de fizică, el evadează din închisoarea subterană și ajunge la stația orbitală care îi permite să stabilească legătura cu utt-ii și cu servitorii acestora, orsoliții, posesori ai unor tehnologii nemaivăzute. Deși aflat aparent în dezavantaj, Grayson reușește să negocieze niște condiții favorabile pentru Pământ și locuitorii acestora.

Terry Pratchett - The Colour of Magic

Terry Pratchett - The Colour of Magic

(1983, en, 170pg)

The main character is an incompetent and cynical wizard named Rincewind. He involuntarily becomes a guide to the rich but naive tourist from the Agatean Empire, Twoflower. Forced to flee the city of Ankh-Morpork to escape a terrible fire that was caused by a bartender who misunderstood the concept of insurance, which Twoflower told him about, they begin on a journey across the Disc.

Unknown to them, their journey is controlled by the Gods playing a board game. Rincewind and Twoflower are controlled by the Lady, and is pitted against the champions of Zephyrus, the god of slight breezes, Fate and Offler the Crocodile God, in the game supervised by Blind Io. The duo face a mountain troll and are separated. The ignorant Twoflower ends up being led to the Temple of Bel-Shamharoth, and Rincewind ends up in a tree-nymph inhabited tree. Rincewind manages to escape while the tree-nymphs try to kill him and is reunited with the tourist. Together with Hrun the Barbarian, they escape from the Temple of Bel-Shamharoth the Soul Eater, which collapses. Later, Hrun agrees to travel with and protect Twoflower and Rincewind in exchange for Heroic pictures of him from Twoflower's magical picture box.

They visit Wyrmberg, an upside-down mountain which is home to dragons that only exist in the imagination. The names of the dragons' riders feature punctuation in the middle, making reference and parody of the Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey. They nearly go over the waterfall on the edge of the Disc, only to be rescued and taken to the country of Krull, a city perched on the very edge of the Discworld inhabited by hydrophobic wizards. The Krullians wish to discover the gender of Great A'Tuin, the giant turtle which carries the Discworld through space, so they have built a space capsule to launch over the Edge. They intend on sacrificing Rincewind and Twoflower to get Fate to smile on the voyage. Instead, Rincewind, Twoflower and Tethis the sea troll hijack the capsule in an attempt to escape and are launched off the Disc themselves.

Steve Fox, Paul Armentano - Marijuana is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink?

Steve Fox, Paul Armentano - Marijuana is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink?

(2009, en, 241pg)


Nationally recognized marijuana-policy experts Steve Fox, Paul Armentano, and Mason Tvert compare and contrast the relative harms and legal status of the two most popular recreational substances in the world--marijuana and alcohol. Through an objective examination of the two drugs and the laws and social practices that steer people toward alcohol, the authors pose a simple yet rarely considered question: Why do we punish adults who make the rational, safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol?

Marijuana Is Safer reaches for a broad audience. For those unfamiliar with marijuana, it provides an introduction to the cannabis plant and its effects on the user, and debunks some of the government's most frequently cited marijuana myths. For current and aspiring advocates of marijuana-law reform, as well as anyone else who is interested in what is becoming a major political battle, the authors spell out why the message that marijuana is safer than alcohol must be a prominent part of the public debate over legalization.

Most importantly, for the millions of Americans who want to advance the cause of marijuana-policy reform--or simply want to defend their own personal, safer choice--this book provides the talking points and detailed information needed to make persuasive arguments to friends, family, coworkers, and elected officials.

Cary McNeal - 1,001 Facts that Will Scare the S#*t Out of You: The Ultimate Bathroom Reader

Cary McNeal - 1,001 Facts that Will Scare the S#*t Out of You: The Ultimate Bathroom Reader

(2010, en, 312pg)

Fact: The most germ-laden place on your toilet isn't the seat or even the bowl:
It's the handle.
"The solution: Don't flush. Let the next guy worry about it."

There are "just the facts"--and then there are just the facts that will frighten the bejeezus out of you. And thanks to this little gem of a bathroom book, you'll never look at the world the same way again, without, er, dry heaving a little bit.

From the sneaky fish that can swim up our genitals to the e coli bacteria lurking in the very water we drink, disturbing phenomena are everywhere we turn. Educational, entertaining, and undeniably horrifying, this book isn't guaranteed to help you, um, go to the bathroom, but it's certain to make your time there more . . . informed.

The Mammoth Book of the Best of Best New SF

The Mammoth Book of the Best of Best New SF

(2008, en)

Hugo Award-winning editor Gardner Dozois’ annual anthology has long been considered the standard by which other best-of-the-year SF collections are judged. After two decades’ worth of superlative science fiction, Dozois now presents a retrospective compilation culling from the last 20 years. Here under one banner is some of the finest work by the genre's leading authors, with a star-studded list of contributors that features among others: Stephen Baxter, Greg Bear, William Gibson, Terry Bisson, Greg Egan, Ursula K. Le Guin, Robert Reed, Robert Silverberg, Bruce Sterling , Charles Stross, Michael Swanwick, Gene Wolfe. A number of the selections are now considered classics. Some notable stories include: ‘Blood Music’, Greg Bear's Hugo-winning exploration of nanotechnology. ‘Bears Discover Fire’, Terry Bisson's tongue-in-cheek consideration of future ursine evolution. ‘The Left Hand of Darkness’, Ursula K. Le Guin’s coming-of-age SF tale. ‘The Winter Market’, in which William Gibson returns to the subject that made him a cultural icon, cyberpunk. With work spanning two decades, this is the most significant science fiction short story anthology published in years

Kevin Mitnick - Ghost in the wires

Kevin Mitnick - Ghost in the wires

(2011, en)

Kevin Mitnick was the most elusive computer break-in artist in history. He accessed computers and networks at the world's biggest companies--and however fast the authorities were, Mitnick was faster, sprinting through phone switches, computer systems, and cellular networks. He spent years skipping through cyberspace, always three steps ahead and labeled unstoppable. But for Kevin, hacking wasn't just about technological feats-it was an old fashioned confidence game that required guile and deception to trick the unwitting out of valuable information.

Driven by a powerful urge to accomplish the impossible, Mitnick bypassed security systems and blazed into major organizations including Motorola, Sun Microsystems, and Pacific Bell. But as the FBI's net began to tighten, Kevin went on the run, engaging in an increasingly sophisticated cat and mouse game that led through false identities, a host of cities, plenty of close shaves, and an ultimate showdown with the Feds, who would stop at nothing to bring him down.

Ghost in the Wires is a thrilling true story of intrigue, suspense, and unbelievable escape, and a portrait of a visionary whose creativity, skills, and persistence forced the authorities to rethink the way they pursued him, inspiring ripples that brought permanent changes in the way people and companies protect their most sensitive information.

Jeffrey Archer - Nici un ban in plus, nici un ban in minus

Jeffrey Archer - Nici un ban in plus, nici un ban in minus

(1976, 256pg, ro)

Un milion de dolari - atat a castigat Harvey Metcalfe, rege pe viata al afacerilor tenebroase, promitand comori si lux. Peste noapte, patru oameni - mostenitorul unui conte, un medic din Harley Street, un negustor cu obiecte de arta din Bond Street si un profesor de la Oxford - raman fara un ban in buzunare. Insa, de aceasta data, Harvey si-a ales gresit victimele. Hotarati sa-si faca dreptate, pagubitii il urmaresc neobositi, din cazinourile de la Monte Carlo si pana la ghiseele de pariuri de la Ascot, ori pe pajistile de la Oxford. Planul lor e simplu: sa-l pacaleasca pe escroc cu exact aceeasi suma pe care au pierdut-o. Pana la ultimul banut. "Archer reuseste sa treaca testul de baza al adevaratului scriitor sa-l faca pe cititor sa-si doreasca sa dea pagina cartii ca sa afle ce se va mai intampla". Sunday Times

Joseph Heller - Clenciul-22

Joseph Heller - Clenciul-22

(1997, ro, 996pg)

Soldatul Svejk a făcut prozeliţi şi în America. Cel puţin asta vrea să sugereze Joseph Heller într-o carte al cărei titlu este dat de clenciul, şpuribusul sau chichiţa - the catch - din regulamentul de ordine interioară conform căruia, atunci când par să se amelioreze, lucrurile se înrăutăţesc de fapt fără drept de apel.

Filtrul întregii acţiuni este căpitanul Yossarian, ins cosmopolit care adună obiceiuri, ticuri, obsesii şi umori din mai multe lumi: asiatică, europeană, americană. Prin el scriitorul pastişează, arată cu degetul, mustăceşte sau dă cu tifla. Yossarian coagulează întregul roman prin replică spumoasă, sentimentalism necontrolat şi un irepresibil simţ al absurdului, într-o carte pe care o citeşti amuzându-te copios, pentru ca la final să-ţi dai seama că s-ar fi cuvenit să plângi.

Walter Isaacson - Steve Jobs

Walter Isaacson - Steve Jobs

(2012, en, 728pg)

Pornind de la o serie de peste 40 de interviuri cu Steve Jobs, derulate de-a lungul a peste doi ani – precum si pe intervievarea a peste o suta de persoane apropiate lui Jobs, familie, prieteni, adversari, competitori sau colegi – Walter Isaacson a reusit sa creioneze portretul vetii trepidante si a personalitatii de o intensitate mistuitoare a unui antreprenor creativ, care, prin pasiunea sa pentru perfectiune si prin hotarârea încrâncenata, a revolutionat sase domenii de activitate: computerele personale, filmul de animatie, muzica, telefoanele, tabletele computerizate si continutul digital.


Într-un moment în care Statele Unite cauta modalitati de a-si sustine întâietatea în domeniul inovatiei, în care societatile din întreaga lume încearca sa construiasca economii creative, adecvate epocii digitale, Jobs reprezinta emblema absoluta a inventivitatii, imaginatiei si inovatiei neabatute. Steve Jobs stia ca cea mai buna cale de a crea valoare în secolul XXI rezida în conectarea creativitatii cu tehnologia, asa ca a construit o companie în cadrul careia salturile imaginatiei s-au îmbinat cu remarcabile reusite din domeniul ingineriei. El si colegii sai de la Apple au fost capabili sa gândeasca diferit: nu au contribuit doar la dezvoltarea unor produse superioare din punct de vedere tehnologic, ci au creat dispozitive complet noi si servicii despre care consumatorii nici macar nu stiau ca au nevoie.

Clayton Emery - Proscrişii

Clayton Emery - Proscrişii

(1991, ro, 149pg)

Era un monstru ciudat, un leu degenerat cu ramasite de aripi cenusii si o starpitura de fata omeneasca. Cu ochii adanci ca o fantana, ca o gaura fara fund. Acum Bith putea sa-i simta mirosul, o duhoare de amoniac si de carne putreda.

Runeswords au fost create la inceputurile lumii si apoi pierdute. Acum, aceste sabii magnifice care inchid in ele o putere devastatoare, trebuie sa fie descoperite si distruse inainte ca intunecatul stapan si creaturile sale sa le foloseasca taisurile. Singura sansa sta in mainile proscrisilor...

Cu o astfel de sabie, un om poate cuceri lumea.

Ion Minulescu - Roșu, galben și albastru

Ion Minulescu - Roșu, galben și albastru

(1924, ro, 122pg)

Bill Bryson - The Mother Tongue

Bill Bryson - The Mother Tongue
(english and how it got that way)

(1990, 270pg, en)


The Mother Tongue is a book by Bill Bryson which compiles the history and origins of the English language and the language's various quirks. It is subtitled English And How It Got That Way. The book discusses the Indo-European origins of English, the growing status of English as a global language, the complex etymology of English words, the dialects of English, spelling reform, prescriptive grammar, and more minor topics including swearing. Bryson's account is a popularization of the subject, designed to entertain as well as to inform, and the book is sprinkled with trivia and language lore.

John Grisham - Camera morţii

John Grisham - Camera morţii

(1994, pg, ro)

Adam Hall este un tînăr avocat plin de talent care munceşte ca un apucat, cumulînd zeci de ore suplimentare, la firma Kravitz & Barnes. Nu, nu este vorba de o altă versiune a celebrului român “Firma”! Talentul autorului este însă acelaşi într-o nouă incursiune în junglă avocăţească. De această dată este analizată în detaliu drama luptei pentru salvarea vieţii unui condamnat la moarte.

Wayne Lionel Aponte - The Year of no money in Tokyo

Wayne Lionel Aponte - The Year of no money in Tokyo

(2009, 169pg, en)

Bailey White - Mama Makes Up Her Mind: And Other Dangers of Southern Living

Bailey White - Mama Makes Up Her Mind: And Other Dangers of Southern Living

(1994, 229pg, en)

Welcome to the unique world of Bailey White. Her aunt Belle may take you to see her bellowing pet alligator. Her uncle Jimbuddy may appall you with his knack for losing pieces of himself. Most of all, you may succumb utterly to the charms of Bailey's mama, who will take you to a juke joint so raunchy it scared Ernest Hemingway or tuck you into her antique guest bed that has the disconcerting habit of folding up on people while they sleep. White's indelible vignettes of Southern eccentricity have entranced millions who have heard her read them on NPR. Mama Makes Up Her Mind is as sweetly intoxicating as a mint julep and as invigorating as a walk in White's own overgrown garden.

Ludwig van Mises - Economia în 7 lecţii

Ludwig van Mises - Economia în 7 lecţii

(ro, 2010, 180pg)

În această carte găsiţi lecţiile argentiniene – editate anterior sub titlul Capitalismul şi duşmanii săi – cu o addenda despre ciclul economic şi o postfaţă de Murray Rothbard.

John Grisham - Avocatul străzii

John Grisham - Avocatul străzii

(en, 1998, 256pg)

Cind un tinar avocat in plina ascensiune hotaraste sa devina aparatorul celor fara adapost, se produce un cutremur de proportii in prospera firma la care lucreaza, iar viata lui se va schimba radical. Cu logica sa implacabila, Grisham, avocatul scriitor, va reusi din nou sa demonteze un intreg sistem pentru a-l recladi altfel, spre deliciul milioanelor sale de cititori impatimiti.

SMASHING - Successful Freelancing for Web Designers

SMASHING - Successful Freelancing for Web Designers

(2010, en, 263pg)

MAKE YOUR FREELANCE BUSINESS A SUCCESS

Being a great Web designer or developer is one thing – running a successful freelance business another. Whether you already have experience working in a design firm or have just graduated from design school, being self-employed entails a number of tasks that you most likely haven’t had to deal with so far. As a freelance Web designer, you also have to be a project manager, office administrator, accountant, controller, and IT expert.

Written by some of the best in the business, Successful Freelancing for Web Designers incorporates some of the very best of Smashing Magazine’s features on working as a freelance web professional.

TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE:
BASIC SKILLS OF FREELANCE WEB DESIGNERS
COMMUNICATION WITH CLIENT AND PARTNERS
MARKETING & CONVINCING STRATEGIES FOR FREELANCERS
CONTRACT AND PRICING

Successful Freelancing for Web Designers will help you avoid common pitfalls while giving you the knowledge and confidence to set up and run your own successful freelancing business.

Anne Rooney - 1001 Horrible Facts

Anne Rooney - 1001 Horrible Facts

(en, 2008, 210pg)

Got a thirst for knowledge of all things nasty?

Then this yuckopedia’s for you! A team of cartoon characters guides you through a feast of festering facts so horrible they’re hard to believe. Featuring gross truths about the human body, food, animals, history, science, and even world records in horribleness, it’s a real education in all things rotten . . . Enter ye not, those of a weak constitution . . .

Kevin Mitnick - The Art of Deception

Kevin Mitnick - The Art of Deception

(2002, en, 690pg)

The Art of Deception is a book by Kevin Mitnick that covers the art of social engineering. Part of the book is composed of real stories, and examples of how social engineering can be combined with hacking.

All, or nearly all, of the examples are fictional, but quite plausible. They expose the ease with which a skilled social engineer can subvert many rules most people take for granted. A few examples:
A person gets out of a speeding ticket by fooling the police into revealing a time when the arresting officer will be out of town, and then requesting a court date coinciding with that time.
A person gains access to a company's internal computer system, guarded by a password that changes daily, by waiting for a snowstorm and then calling the network center posing as a snowed-in employee who wants to work from home, tricking the operator into revealing today's password and access through duplicity
A person gains lots of proprietary information about a start-up company by waiting until the CEO is out of town, and then showing up at the company headquarters pretending to be a close friend and business associate of the CEO.
A person gains access to a restricted area by approaching the door carrying a large box of books, and relying on people's propensity to hold the door open for others in that situation.

This book also, after giving an example, will tell what tricked/conned the victims of the scam, and how to prevent it in real life or business.

The book ends with Mitnick's strategy and business plans to prevent most if not all of the scams in the book.