Other books that might interest you

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  Pandemics - A Very Short...

  Christian W. McMillen

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  The 2014 Ebola epidemic demonstrated the power of pandemics and their ability not only to destroy lives locally but also to capture the imagination and terrify the world. In 2019 and the years that followed, the coronavirus pandemic infected every continent and took the lives of millions. In this updated edition, Christian W. McMillen provides a concise yet comprehensive account of pandemics throughout human history, illustrating how pandemic disease has shaped history and, at the same time, social behavior has influenced pandemic disease.This Very Short Introduction describes history's major pandemics. McMillen discusses state responses to pandemics, such as quarantine, isolation, travel restrictions, and other forms of social control, and pays special attention to the rise of public health and the explosion of medical research in the wake of pandemics, especially as the germ theory of disease emerged in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Today, medicine is able to control all of these diseases, yet some of them are still devastating in much of the developing world. By assessing the relationship between poverty and disease and the geography of epidemics, McMillen offers an outspoken and thought-provoking point of view on the necessity for global governments to learn from past experiences and cooperate to prevent any future epidemic.

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  Slippery Beast - A True Crime...

  Ellen Ruppel Shell

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  What is it about eels? Depending on who you ask, they are a pest, a fascination, a threat, a pot of gold. Eels emerged some 200 million years ago, weathered mass extinctions and continental shifts, and were once among the world's most abundant freshwater fish. But since the 1970s, their numbers have plummeted. Because eels—as unagi—are another thing: delicious. 
   
   
   
  In Slippery Beast, journalist Ellen Ruppel Shell travels in the world of "eel people," pursuing a fascination with this mysterious creature. Despite centuries of study by thinkers from Aristotle to Leeuwenhoek to Sigmund Freud, much about eels remains unknown. Eels cannot be bred reliably in captivity and infant eels are unbelievably valuable. A pound of the tiny, translucent, bug-eyed "elvers" caught in the fresh waters of Maine can command $3,000 or more on the black market. Illegal trade in eels is an international scandal measured in billions of dollars every year. In Maine, federal investigators have risked their lives to bust poaching rings. 
   
   
   
  Ruppel Shell follows the elusive eel from Maine to the Sargasso Sea, stalking riversides, fishing holes, laboratories, restaurants, courtrooms, and America's first commercial eel "family farm." This is an enthralling, globe-spanning look at an animal that you may never come to love, but which will never fail to astonish you.

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  Strange Animal Facts That Will...

  Shawn Douglas

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  Unwind with soothing animal trivia in a calming sleep aid crafted to dissolve stress and guide you into deep rest.
   
  Transform your bedtime routine by replacing racing thoughts with a soft stream of mild curiosity, perfectly calibrated for nights when insomnia lingers. This audio experience offers a peaceful escape from the day's demands, prioritizing a sedative mood over dramatic storytelling to help you settle into a state of heavy-eyed relaxation.
   
  Let the gentle rhythms of nature wash over you through slow, unhurried language that demands nothing of your attention. Whether describing the unusual habits of sea creatures or the quiet movements of land animals, the narrative creates a safe mental environment where anxiety fades and the mind is free to wander without focus.
   
  What you will experience in this restorative listen:
  
  Low-Stakes Learning: Strange but harmless facts about wildlife that require no analysis or memory retention.
  Atmospheric Drift: Long, descriptive sentences designed to act as cognitive white noise for a busy brain.
  Gradual Deceleration: A narrative arc that tapers from concrete details into abstract, dream-like softness.
  Mindful Disengagement: A tool to loosen your grip on conscious thought and ease the transition into slumber.
  
   
  There are no sudden surprises, loud jokes, or sharp turns to startle you awake. Instead, enjoy a steady, reassuring flow of information that slowly retreats into the quiet corners of the night, leaving you resting in a space of total tranquility.

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  Neural Networks for Beginners -...

  Brian Murray

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  "Neural Networks for Beginners: An Easy-to-Follow Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning" is an essential guide to understanding the basics of neural networks, the fundamental technology behind artificial intelligence and deep learning. 
   This book provides an in-depth exploration of neural network architectures and how they can be used to solve complex real-world problems in a variety of fields, including image and speech recognition, natural language processing, and time series analysis. 
   Written for beginners, this book provides a clear and concise introduction to the concepts and techniques of neural networks, including the basics of machine learning and deep learning. It covers a range of topics, from the fundamentals of neural networks to building and training models using popular frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch, as well as advanced topics like transfer learning and reinforcement learning. 
   With practical examples and clear explanations, "Neural Networks for Beginners" is a valuable resource for anyone looking to learn about this exciting field. Whether you are a student, a professional, or simply interested in the technology behind artificial intelligence, this book will help you understand the basics of neural networks and how they are used to solve real-world problems. 
   

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  Practice the Pause - Jesus'...

  Caroline Oakes

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  These days, many of us live in a state of overreactive fight-or-flight response and chronic stress. The demands of modern life pull us in all directions and can often put the meaningful connections in our lives at risk—connections to our deepest selves, to others, and even to God. 
   
   
   
  But there is good news. New developments in brain science have recently proven that an intentional practice of pausing for a few minutes of meditation, prayer, or other contemplative practice actually rewires our brain in ways that make us calmer, less reactive, and better able to see the bigger picture. 
   
   
   
  In Practice the Pause, spiritual director and writer Caroline Oakes offers easy-to-understand explanations of how this new brain science is confirming what every spiritual tradition has been telling us for millennia: by practicing the pause, we become more self-aware and better able to understand others. We become more "God aware." With a refreshing focus on the Eastern Christian understanding of Jesus as a master of wisdom, Oakes shines a spotlight on Jesus's own centering pause practice as a transformative path for personal and social change. We learn that even a seven-second pause practice can move us beyond the fight-or-flight responses of our ego in our daily lives and actually equip us to cultivate the common good in the world.

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  Challenges and Future of...

  Santiago Machain

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  In the gripping conclusion to The Earth's Web Series, Challenges and Future of Terrestrial Ecosystems confronts the urgent threats facing Earth's ecosystems and explores the innovative solutions shaping their future. From the devastating impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss to the overexploitation of resources and the effects of urbanization, this volume lays bare the critical challenges our terrestrial landscapes face. 
  The book highlights how conservation strategies, Indigenous knowledge, and technological advancements are driving efforts to restore and protect these vital ecosystems. It also examines the role of global policies, community actions, and sustainable practices in building a harmonious future for life on Earth. With thought-provoking analysis and actionable insights, Challenges and Future of Terrestrial Ecosystems inspires readers to understand, preserve, and reimagine the delicate balance of our natural world.

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