Other books that might interest you

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  The Place of Tides

  James Rebanks

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  A National Bestseller 
  “A modern classic, one we very much need right now.” –George Saunders 
  From the acclaimed author of The Shepherd’s Life, a magical work of nonfiction in which James Rebanks reflects on a life-changing summer spent on a remote island off the coast of Norway, where his only companion was an old woman who practiced the ancient tradition of collecting eiderdown from birds that nest on this remarkable landscape each year 
  We are all in need of lights to follow. 
  One afternoon many years ago, James Rebanks met an old woman on a remote Norwegian island. She lived and worked alone on a tiny rocky outcrop, caring for wild Eider ducks and gathering their down. Hers was a centuries-old trade that had once made men and women rich but had long been in decline. Still, somehow, she seemed to be hanging on. 
  Back at home, Rebanks couldn’t stop thinking about the woman on the rocks. She was fierce and otherworldly—and yet strangely familiar. Years passed. Then, one day, he wrote her a letter, asking if he could return. Bring work clothes, she replied, and good boots, and come quickly: her health was failing. And so he travelled to the edge of the Arctic to witness her last season on the island. 
  This is the story of that season. It is the story of a unique and ancient landscape, and of the woman who brought it back to life. It traces the pattern of her work from the rough, isolated toil of bitter winter to the elation of the endless summer light, when the birds leave behind their precious down for gathering, like feathered gold. 
  Slowly, Rebanks begins to understand that this woman and her world are not what he had previously thought. What began as a journey of escape becomes an extraordinary lesson in self-knowledge and forgiveness.

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  Beyond Measure - The Hidden...

  James Vincent

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  A vibrant account of how measurement has invisibly shaped our world, from ancient civilizations to the modern day. 
   
   
   
  From the cubit to the kilogram, the humble inch to the speed of light, measurement is a powerful tool that humans invented to make sense of the world. In this revelatory work of science and social history, James Vincent dives into its hidden world, taking listeners from ancient Egypt, where measuring the annual depth of the Nile was an essential task, to the intellectual origins of the metric system in the French Revolution, and from the surprisingly animated rivalry between metric and imperial, to our current age of the "quantified self." At every turn, Vincent is keenly attuned to the political consequences of measurement, exploring how it has also been used as a tool for oppression and control. 
   
   
   
  Beyond Measure reveals how measurement is not only deeply entwined with our experience of the world, but also how its history encompasses and shapes the human quest for knowledge.

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  The Effluent Society

  Norman Thelwell

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  Artist Norman Thelwell is best known for his cartoons depicting plump, petulant ponies and their young riders, but The Effluent Society shows another aspect of his work and character. Thelwell was passionate about the countryside and nature. During his life he became increasingly concerned about the impact of development, pollution and society's treatment of the environment. When The Effluent Society was first published in 1971, his concerns were way ahead of their time. Today, environmental and conservation issues are in the mainstream and have become a global priority.
  
  Although the cartoons focus on a serious topic there is no mistaking Thelwell's inimitable style. He used his talent and humour to convey a powerful message: the need to protect the environment. He also takes a wry look at modern life and so-called progress. Thelwell admitted that out of all his books, The Effluent Society was the one that gave him the greatest 'personal satisfaction' and, as such, the re-issue of this title is a fitting tribute to the artist.

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  Not with a Bug But With a...

  Hyrum Anderson, Ram Shankar Siva...

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  A robust and engaging account of the single greatest threat faced by AI and ML systems. 
   
   
   
  In Not with a Bug, But with a Sticker: Attacks on Machine Learning Systems and What to Do About Them, a team of distinguished adversarial machine learning researchers deliver a riveting account of the most significant risk to currently deployed artificial intelligence systems: cybersecurity threats. The authors take you on a sweeping tour—from inside secretive government organizations to academic workshops at ski chalets to Google's cafeteria—recounting how major AI systems remain vulnerable to the exploits of bad actors of all stripes. 
   
   
   
  Based on hundreds of interviews of academic researchers, policy makers, business leaders and national security experts, the authors compile the complex science of attacking AI systems with color and flourish and provide a front row seat to those who championed this change. Grounded in real world examples of previous attacks, you will learn how adversaries can upend the reliability of otherwise robust AI systems with straightforward exploits.

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  IGNOU BCA System Analysis and...

  Manish Soni

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  The field of System Analysis and Design is a foundational element in the world of information systems, serving as the blueprint for developing robust, efficient, and scalable software solutions. As organizations increasingly rely on sophisticated information systems to manage their operations, the demand for professionals skilled in analyzing and designing these systems is at an all-time high. Recognizing the critical importance of this discipline, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has included System Analysis and Design as a key component of its curriculum, challenging students to acquire both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. 
  This book, IGNOU System Analysis and Design Previous Years Unsolved Papers (MCS-014), is a carefully curated compilation of unsolved question papers from previous years. It is designed to serve as an essential resource for students preparing for their exams in this subject. The primary objective of this book is to provide students with a comprehensive tool to self-assess their understanding, identify areas for improvement, and enhance their problem-solving abilities. 
  We believe that practicing with previous years’ question papers is one of the most effective ways to prepare for exams. It not only acquaints students with the types and formats of questions they are likely to encounter but also deepens their comprehension of the subject matter by applying theoretical concepts to practical scenarios. By working through these unsolved papers, students will be able to evaluate their readiness, improve their time management during exams, and build confidence in tackling complex questions.

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  The Spice Ports - Mapping the...

  Nicholas Nugent

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  We may think of "globalism" as a recent development but its origins date back to the fifteenth century and beyond, when seafarers pioneered routes across the oceans with the objectives of exploration, trade, and profit. These voyages only became possible after certain technical innovations—improvements in ship design, compasses, and mapping—enabled navigation across unprecedented distances. The mariners' embarkation points were the vibrant ports of the West—Venice, Amsterdam, Lisbon—and their destinations the exotic ports of the East—Malacca, Goa, Bombay—where they tracked down the elusive spices, so much in demand by Western palates. 
   
   
   
  This development of maritime communication brought benefits apart from culinary delights: the spread of ideas on art, literature, and science. But it was not necessarily beneficial for everyone concerned: colonial ambitions were often disastrous for local populations, who were frequently exploited as slave plantation labor. 
   
   
   
  This wide-ranging account of a fascinating period of global history uses original maps and contemporary artists' views to tell the story of how each port developed individually while also encouraging us to consider contrasting points of view of the benefits and the damages of the maritime spice trade.

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