Systems Science

A leading brain scientist's look at the neurobiology of pleasure-and how pleasures can become addictions. Whether eating, taking drugs, engaging in sex, or doing good deeds, the pursuit of pleasure is a central drive of the human animal. In The Compass of Pleasure Johns Hopkins neuroscientist David J. Linden explains how pleasure affects us at the most fundamental level: in our brain.

With In a Flight of Starlings, celebrated physicist Giorgio Parisi guides us through his unorthodox yet exhilarating work, starting with investigating the principles of physics by observing the flight of flocks of birds. Studying the movements of these communities, he has realized, proves an illuminating way into understanding complex systems of all kinds—collections of everything from atoms and planets to other animals, such as ourselves. Along the way, he reflects on the lessons he has taken from a life in pursuit of scientific truth.

On a planet code-named Gateway stands a mysterious portal to the past, the Guardian of Forever. Spock, Kirk, and McCoy have just returned from a voyage through the gateway with a young man named Zar - Spock's own son from ancient Sarpeidon! But while Spock and the brilliant, primitive youth try to bridge a gap of centuries and cultures, Gateway is seized by the Romulans...Featuring a dramatic reading by Leonard Nimoy and James Doohan, and enhanced with sound effects and an original score!

Start a peaceful revolution by planting an edible ecosystem and sharing the experience with your neighbors. Humans have always thrived in rich, diverse, edible ecosystems. Yet most cities and suburbs are blanketed by lawns, ornamentals, and a lack of biodiversity, let alone anything edible. It is within these sterile landscapes that seeds of an edible ecosystem lie. The Edible Ecosystem Solution is a comprehensive, practical guidebook that looks at underutilized spaces to reveal the many opportunities for landscape transformation.

The human body is full of many wonders, some of which we have yet to explore! There's so much to discover, especially for young scientists! Jump-start your child's learning of biology with this program. In this book, kids will take a journey with Dr. Discovery Jones on an exciting and educational journey throughout the human body looking at the cells, the tissues, and the organs! Filled with fun facts, this book will fill young and curious minds with a great foundational knowledge of how the human body works.

A bounty hunting survivor. A Galactic dark elf. A woman who has given up her humanity to become something more. These stories and more are available in the first short story anthology for the System Apocalypse, covering year one on Earth. When the world ends, humanity steps up, finding new ways to survive in a world with classes, magic, and monsters. The anthology features exciting, new stories by five new writers and a new, never publicly released short story by Tao Wong.

New York Times best-selling author Seth Siegel tells how contaminants got in our drinking water, what they’re doing to us, and what we must do to make our water safe.

Step into the mind-bending world of The Variable Man by Philip K. Dick. In a future where war, technology, and predictive algorithms determine every outcome, a man from the past unexpectedly arrives—throwing the entire system into chaos. As governments and military forces scramble to eliminate this anomaly, they soon realize that his very unpredictability might be the key to reshaping the future.

After years of ill health, capitalism is now in a critical condition. Growth has given way to stagnation; inequality is leading to instability; and confidence in the money economy has all but evaporated. In How Will Capitalism End?, the acclaimed analyst of contemporary politics and economics Wolfgang Streeck argues the world is about to change.

Land that job! An in-depth overview of system design and how to prepare for your interview. When it comes to answering system design questions, many of us don't know where to start. We don't have the logic and knowledge to effectively communicate back a reply that impresses the interviewer. System Design Interview: A Strategic Guide for a Successful Interview is an easy-to-understand, step-by-step book that provides clarity on how to prepare and respond to questions in an interview.

When Ramzan steals from the Chechnyan Mafia to create a better life for his sister, he knows he’s pissing off the wrong people. They want their money, and they’ve created a diabolical method of extracting information from their enemies. Full Immersion Virtual Reality sounds great, until he learns the horrors this incredible technology can cook up. Can Ramzan protect his secrets and maintain his sanity against this psychological onslaught? He’s gotta stay sharp, and he’s gotta stay sane, if he has a hope of escaping....

The SAD pandemic is real. Sexual Violence, Addictions, and Domestic Violence (SAD) result in too many children in care yearly, aging out to different systems such as prison, employment and income assistance programs, mental health institutions, drug rehabilitation, and homelessness. Are we going to allow the cycle to continue for generations?

In this stunning new story of political economy, author Eric Robert Morse examines why the modern system has become so unwieldy and explains what must be done to correct it. His astute analysis and fascinating storytelling take readers on an epic journey, from the dawn of free-market capitalism during the age of exploration, through the industrial revolution and Adam Smith, to the rise of Keynesianism and the dominance of the welfare state....

Are you ready to take control of chronic inflammation, reclaim your health, and embrace an energy-filled life? This empowering 2-book compilation combines science-backed insights with practical solutions to guide you toward lasting wellness.

A mad scientist. A murdered James Kirk. A universe collapsing onto itself! Featuring a dramatic reading by Leonard Nimoy and George Takei, and enhanced with sound effects and an original score!

All Vanessa Williams wanted for the holidays was to escape the demands of her parents’ social schedules and find a comfortable place to work on her book. Having the opportunity to do so while enjoying the comforts of a cabin on an alien world seemed like the perfect way to pass the season. Plans change, however, when her shuttle crashes in the inhospitable mountains and she finds herself waiting out the storm in an alien castle with a male whose burning gold eyes promise forbidden pleasures.

Noah secured his first safe zone, got a ton of XP and loot, and saw his name on the national leaderboard for the System. Now he wants more. His party of unlikely adventurers will head north to South Bend, Indiana to try to secure a safe zone that is on the brink of disaster.

In 2014, the ESA spacecraft Rosetta lands a small probe named Philae on 67P, a Jupiter-family comet. The lander goes radio-silent two years later. Suddenly, in 2026, scientists receive new transmissions from the comet. Motivated by findings that are initially sensational but soon turn frightening, NASA dispatches a crewed spacecraft to the comet. But as the ship approaches the mysterious celestial body, the connection to the astronauts soon breaks. Now it seems nothing can be done anymore to stop the looming dark danger that threatens Earth....

Many yearn for a different realm, where the allure of enchanting women, otherworldly abilities, and thrilling adventures beckons. But what if you were born into a world where you're regarded as nothing more than a mere tool, utterly unsuited for their intended purposes? Plunged into the depths of despair, having lost that which he cherished most, the unmistakable chime of a notification altered not only his destiny but the very fabric of all existence. Yet, whether this change was for the better or worse remained uncertain.

Laterre is on the brink of war. The Third Estate are rioting against the injustices of a corrupt system. The Patriarche, reeling from the murder of his only heir, makes brutal attempts to quash the unrest, while a new militant faction launches a series of deadly attacks. And three outlaws find themselves pulled into the fray. Marcellus is now a traitor to his planet, willing to do anything to stop his grandfather from seizing control of Laterre. Chatine is a prisoner on Bastille. Alouette is a fugitive who has been lied to her entire life. These three renegades must risk everything.