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Supermarket
by Kathleen KrullExplains modern supermarkets and how they work, discussing how they organize, display, and keep track of the items they sell.
Supermarket Retailing in Africa (Routledge Contemporary Africa)
by Felix Adamu Nandonde and John L. StantonThis book surveys the landscape of supermarket retailing in Africa, showing how this expanding part of the retail sector is changing consumerism on the continent. Drawing on research covering retail formats, consumers’ behaviour, strategies, operation research, ICT, relationship marketing and market linkage, the book investigates the many factors impacting the growth of supermarkets in Africa. The contributors employ theories, concepts and methods in order to help us to understand changing consumer behaviour, the strategies used by suppliers to access supermarkets, the role of service suppliers in the growth of the sector, and ultimately how supermarkets can assist in making the market linkage between producers and consumers in Africa. The chapters provide a comprehensive exploration of modern retail, discussing its growth and future, identifying consumers’ preferences, as well as suggesting solutions to the challenges that retailers and suppliers on the continent face in developing the sector. This book will be of interest to scholars and students of the retail sector and retail management in Africa.
Supermarket USA: Food and Power in the Cold War Farms Race
by Shane HamiltonThis cultural history examines the global rise of American-style supermarkets during the Cold War era and how they shaped the way we eat today.Supermarkets were invented in the United States, and from the 1940s on they made their way around the world, often explicitly to carry American-style economic culture with them. This innovative history tells us how supermarkets were used as anticommunist weapons during the Cold War, and how their proliferation has shaped our current food system.The widespread appeal of supermarkets contributed to a “farms race” between the United States and the Soviet Union, as the superpowers vied to show that their contrasting approaches to food production and distribution were best suited to an abundant future. In the aftermath of the Cold War, US food power was transformed into a global system of market power, laying the groundwork for the emergence of our contemporary world, in which transnational supermarkets operate as powerful institutions in a global food economy.
Supermarketing
by Frank J. CharvatThe supermarket today is regarded as an established institution, yet only thirty years ago it was but an embryonic idea. Already, this marketing innovation has left an indelible imprint on most as peets of food manufacturing, processing, wholesaling, and retailing. The lack of a text devoted to a comprehensive appraisal and ana lytical study of the industry has prompted the writing of this book.
Supermercados Disco: Regional Strategy
by David J. Arnold Guillermo D'Andrea Silvina Romero PazThe Disco chain of supermarkets has pursued a successful local niche strategy in Argentina to compete with intense competition from multinational chains. Now Disco considers options for expanding its regional strength.
Superminds: How Hyperconnectivity is Changing the Way We Solve Problems
by Thomas W. MaloneIs Apple conscious? Could a cyber–human system sense a potential terrorist attack? Or make diagnosing a rare and little-known disease routine? Computers are not replacing us: they are enhancing us. Different intelligences are joining together to do things we thought were impossible. Whether it&’s devising innovations to tackle climate change, helping job seekers and employers find one another, or identifying the outbreak of a serious disease, groups of humans and machines are already working together to solve all sorts of problems. And they will do a lot more. The future will be like another world – a place where we&’ll think differently. In many ways, we are already there.
Superminds: The Surprising Power of People and Computers Thinking Together
by Thomas W. MaloneFrom the founding director of the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence comes a fascinating look at the remarkable capacity for intelligence exhibited by groups of people and computers working together. If you're like most people, you probably believe that humans are the most intelligent animals on our planet. But there's another kind of entity that can be far smarter: groups of people. In this groundbreaking book, Thomas Malone, the founding director of the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence, shows how groups of people working together in superminds -- like hierarchies, markets, democracies, and communities -- have been responsible for almost all human achievements in business, government, science, and beyond. And these collectively intelligent human groups are about to get much smarter. Using dozens of striking examples and case studies, Malone shows how computers can help create more intelligent superminds simply by connecting humans to one another in a variety of rich, new ways. And although it will probably happen more gradually than many people expect, artificially intelligent computers will amplify the power of these superminds by doing increasingly complex kinds of thinking. Together, these changes will have far-reaching implications for everything from the way we buy groceries and plan business strategies to how we respond to climate change, and even for democracy itself. By understanding how these collectively intelligent groups work, we can learn how to harness their genius to achieve our human goals. Drawing on cutting-edge science and insights from a remarkable range of disciplines, Superminds articulates a bold -- and utterly fascinating -- picture of the future that will change the ways you work and live, both with other people and with computers.
Supermodularity and Complementarity
by Donald M. TopkisThe economics literature is replete with examples of monotone comparative statics; that is, scenarios where optimal decisions or equilibria in a parameterized collection of models vary monotonically with the parameter. Most of these examples are manifestations of complementarity, with a common explicit or implicit theoretical basis in properties of a super-modular function on a lattice. Supermodular functions yield a characterization for complementarity and extend the notion of complementarity to a general setting that is a natural mathematical context for studying complementarity and monotone comparative statics. Concepts and results related to supermodularity and monotone comparative statics constitute a new and important formal step in the long line of economics literature on complementarity.This monograph links complementarity to powerful concepts and results involving supermodular functions on lattices and focuses on analyses and issues related to monotone comparative statics. Don Topkis, who is known for his seminal contributions to this area, here presents a self-contained and up-to-date view of this field, including many new results, to scholars interested in economic theory and its applications as well as to those in related disciplines. The emphasis is on methodology. The book systematically develops a comprehensive, integrated theory pertaining to supermodularity, complementarity, and monotone comparative statics. It then applies that theory in the analysis of many diverse economic models formulated as decision problems, noncooperative games, and cooperative games.
Supermoney
by Adam Smith"Adam Smith continues to dazzle and sparkle! With the passage of time, Supermoney has, if anything, added to its power to inspire, arouse, provoke, motivate, inform, illuminate, entertain, and guide a whole new generation of readers, while marvelously reprising the global money show for earlier fans."?David M. Darst, author of The Art of Asset Allocation Managing Director and Chief Investment Strategist, Morgan Stanley Individual Investor Group"Nobody has written about the craft of money management with more insight, humor, and understanding than Adam Smith. Over the years, he has consistently separated wisdom from whimsy, brilliance from bluster, and character from chicanery."?Byron R. Wien, coauthor of Soros on Soros Chief Investment Strategist, Pequot Capital ManagementSupermoney may be even more relevant today than when it was first published nearly twenty-five years ago. Written in the bright and funny style that became Adam Smith's trademark, this book gives a view inside institutions, professionals, and the nature of markets that has rarely been shown before or since. "Adam Smith" was the first to introduce an obscure fund manager in Omaha, Nebraska, named Warren Buffett. In this new edition, Smith provides a fresh perspective in an updated Preface that contextualizes the applicability of the markets of the 1960s and 1970s to today's markets. Things change, but sometimes the more they change, the more they stay the same.
Supernova Advisor Teams: A Pathway to Excellence
by Robert D. Knapp Curtis C. Brown Jr.Strengthen and unify your Financial Advisor Team Teams are the principle building blocks of the strategy of successful organizations. The focus of your organization may be on service, quality, cost, value, speed, efficiency, performance, or any other similar goals, but teams remain the central methodology of most organizations across sectors. Vertical teams and horizontal teams can transcend organizational silos and boundaries if properly focused and supported. Building collaborative teams can improve the client experience. In Supernova Teams; Effective Team Strategies for Financial Advisors, you’ll discover the macro rationale and justification for teams, as well as the micro benefits of team formation. • Boost your team’s effectiveness • Discover different leadership styles • Write winning team vision statements • Get familiar with communication strategies From on-boarding a new team member to finding effective ways to bolster the ones you already have, this book shows you how to turn any team into a cohesive, productive unit with like-minded goals.
Superpower Showdown: How the Battle Between Trump and Xi Threatens a New Cold War
by Bob Davis Lingling WeiThe inside story of the US–China trade war, “especially insightful on how the contradictory natures of Trump and Xi have impeded understanding” (The Boston Globe).This book reveals how relations between China and the United States unraveled, darkening prospects for global peace and prosperity, told by two Wall Street Journal reporters—one a Pulitzer Prize winner based in Washington, DC, the other in Beijing—who have had more access to the decision makers in the White House and in China’s Zhongnanhai leadership compound than anyone else.The trade battle between China and the US didn’t start with Trump and won’t end with him, argue Bob Davis and Lingling Wei. The countries have a long and fraught political and economic history, which has become more contentious in recent years—an escalation that has negatively impacted both countries’ economies and the world at large—and holds the potential for even more uncertainty and disruption.How did this standoff happen? How much are US presidents and officials who haven’t effectively confronted or negotiated with China to blame? What role have Chinese leaders, and US business leaders who for decades acted as Beijing’s lobbyists in Washington, played in driving these tensions? Superpower Showdown is the story of a romance gone bad, based on the authors’ hundreds of interviews with government and business officials in both nations over seven years. They explain how we reached this tipping point—and look at where we could be headed. “Essential reading for anyone concerned about America’s economic future.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)"A must-read for anyone interested in what happened between China and the United States, likely the world’s most important economic relationship.” —Forbes
Superpower in Peril: A Battle Plan to Renew America
by David McCormickDiscover a groundbreaking vision for how to unlock America&’s full potential for greatness from one of the country&’s foremost conservative leaders: David McCormick, the former CEO of Bridgewater Associates. It&’s easy to be pessimistic about the state of our country these days, but as McCormick explains, if the true test of a great country is its capacity for self-renewal, the United States of America stands apart. Our country has continually defeated grave threats and overcome domestic divisions when the odds have been stacked against us. That&’s the American story, and we can do it again. Drawing on decades of leadership in business, the military, and government, McCormick issues a call for visionary, servant leadership and outlines a conservative agenda for American renewal that would expand access to the American Dream, ensure U.S. technological supremacy, confront China, and revive the restless, courageous, and indefatigable spirit that dwells within the American heart. This book is a must read for those who care deeply about the future of America. McCormick, a former candidate for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022, argues the path forward is treacherous and uncertain. It will undoubtedly test our resilience and place in the world. But if we commit ourselves to renewal, America's best days are yet to come.
Superpower: An Inspiring Story to Overcome Self-Doubt and Unleash Your Authentic Greatness
by Kate LeavellLearn to find your own superpowers with this inspiring journey of self-acceptance In Superpower, bestselling author Kate Leavell delivers a compelling story of self-love, appreciation, and the power of sharing and connecting with those around us through vulnerability and understanding. In the book, a soccer coach tells his players about the adventures of &“the new kid&” at school who&’s afraid of being teased and bullied. Through the help of a special teacher, he and his classmates learn to overcome challenges and harness the power of seeking to understand new perspectives and viewpoints. The class experiences the power of connection inside the activities during puzzle week, and along with their new student, finds the confidence to embrace their unique traits and appreciate and celebrate the uniqueness in each other. In Superpower, you&’ll find: Games to help you discover common interests and get to know those around you on a deeper level Exercises to learn about what it means to have different perspectives and learn from the stories of others Discussion questions for deeper reflection and for group book studies An eye-opening and thought-provoking journey through difference, self-acceptance, and understanding, Superpower shows us how to impact the world for good using our very own, built-in superpowers.
Superpower: How to Think, ACT, and Perform with Less Effort and Better Results
by Ford SaeksA road map to better decision-making and a better life! Do you want more out of your life and your job with less effort and better results? Have you ever felt that there just has to be a better way to get there? If so, you're not alone. <P><P>Millions of people, just like you, are faced with many challenges in their professional and personal lives on their journey to success. Superpower! takes you on a journey where you'll discover seven principles that will help you solve problems faster, make better decisions, and improve your professional and personal life. Develop the common sense insights and critical thinking strategies to unlock your personal power and performance at work and in life. Leverage common sense insights to develop your critical thinking and decision making skills, thus improving your performance and results in the business world Discover ways to make better decisions, implement them faster, get more done with less effort, and enjoy a better quality of life at work In today's competitive, information-overloaded, and challenging economic conditions, there is no such thing as job security--only skills security. The more you learn, the more you can earn and this book gives you the ultimate roadmap for how to think, act, and perform with less effort and better results.
Superpower: One Man's Quest to Transform American Energy
by Russell GoldIn the ever more urgent quest for sources of renewable energy, meet the man boldly harnessing the natural forces that could power America’s future.The United States is in the midst of an energy transition. We want to embrace renewable energy sources like wind and solar, and rely less on dirty fossil fuels. We don’t want to keep pumping so many heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. Any transition from a North American power grid that uses mostly fossil fuels to one that is predominantly clean requires a massive building spree—billions of dollars’ worth. Enter Michael Skelly, an infrastructure builder who began working on wind energy in 2000, when many considered the industry a joke. Eight years later, Skelly helped create the second largest wind power company in the United States—which was sold for $2 billion. Wind energy was no longer funny; it was well on its way to generating a substantial percentage of the electricity in the United States. Acclaimed journalist and author of The Boom, “the best all-around book yet on fracking” (San Francisco Chronicle), Russell Gold tells the story of this pioneer whose innovations, struggles, and persistence represent the groundbreaking changes underway in American energy. InSuperpower, we meet Skelly’s financial backers, a family that pivoted from oil exploration to renewable energy; the farmers ready to embrace the new “cash crop”; the landowners prepared to go to court to avoid looking at overhead wires; and utility executives who concoct fiendish ways to block renewable energy. Gold also shows how Skelly’s innovative company, Clean Line Energy, conceived the idea for a new power grid that would allow sunlight where abundant to light up homes thousands of miles away in cloudy states, and take wind from the Great Plains to keep air conditioners running in Atlanta. Thrilling, provocative, and important, Superpower is a fascinating look at America’s future.
Superpower?
by Raghav BahlIs India ready for superpower status or too far behind China to ever catch up? In his career as one of India's leading journalists and entrepreneurs, Raghav Bahl has often faced this question, and many others, from bewildered visitors: * Why are Indian regulations so weak and confusing? * Why is your foreign investment policy so restrictive? * How come your hotels are world class, but the roads leading to them are so potholed? * Why don't you lower your voice when you make fun of your politicians? * Why do you control the price of oil and cable TV? Clearly there's a huge difference in how India and its arch-rival China work on the ground. China is spectacularly effective in building infrastructure and is now reinvesting almost half its GDP. Meanwhile, India is still a "promising" economy: more than half its GDP is consumed by its billion-plus people, yet India has some unique advantages: Half its population is under twenty-five, giving it a strong demographic edge; 350 million Indians understand English, making it the largest English-speaking country in the world; and it's the world's largest democracy. In the race to superpower status, who is more likely to win: China's hare or India's tortoise? Bahl argues that the winner might not be determined by who is investing more and growing faster today but by something more intangible: who has superior innovative skills and more entrepreneurial savvy. He notes that China and India were both quick to recover from the financial crisis, but China's rebound was accompanied by huge debt and deflation, with weak demand. India's turnaround was sturdier, with lower debt and modest inflation. So India's GDP grew twice as fast as China's for a few quarters-the first time that had happened in nearly three decades. And in contrast to China's Yuan, which is pummeled for being artificially undervalued, India's rupee largely floats against world currencies. In the end, it might come down to one deciding factor: can India fix its governance before China repairs its politics? With insights into the two countries' histories, politics, economies and cultures, this is a well-written, fully documented, comprehensive account of the race to become the next global superpower. For anyone looking to understand China, India and the future of the world economy, this is the book to read.
Supershop like the Coupon Queen
by Susan Samtur Adam R. SamturThe original "Coupon Queen" and New York Times bestselling author shares her unique Five-Step Supershopping System. Regardless of age, locality, and lifestyle, saving money is high on everyone's list today. In this long awaited follow-up to the bestselling Cashing In at the Checkout, Susan Samtur explains her Five-Step Supershopping System, a new technique that will show readers how they can save 50% or more every time they shop. Samtur's is the first system that converges new supermarket savings technologies- rewards programs, store cards, websites-with traditional proven techniques, like couponing and refunding.
Supersizing Urban America: How Inner Cities Got Fast Food with Government Help
by Chin JouMore than one-third of adults in the United States are obese. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there are over 112,000 obesity-related deaths annually, and for many years, the government has waged a very public war on the problem. Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona warned in 2006 that “obesity is the terror within,” going so far as to call it a threat that will “dwarf 9/11.” What doesn’t get mentioned in all this? The fact that the federal government helped create the obesity crisis in the first place—especially where it is strikingly acute, among urban African-American communities. Supersizing Urban America reveals the little-known story of how the U.S. government got into the business of encouraging fast food in inner cities, with unforeseen consequences we are only beginning to understand. Chin Jou begins her story in the late 1960s, when predominantly African-American neighborhoods went from having no fast food chain restaurants to being littered with them. She uncovers the federal policies that have helped to subsidize that expansion, including loan guarantees to fast food franchisees, programs intended to promote minority entrepreneurship, and urban revitalization initiatives. During this time, fast food companies also began to relentlessly market to urban African-American consumers. An unintended consequence of these developments was that low-income minority communities were disproportionately affected by the obesity epidemic. In the first book about the U.S. government’s problematic role in promoting fast food in inner-city America, Jou tells a riveting story of the food industry, obesity, and race relations in America that is essential to understanding health and obesity in contemporary urban America.
Superstar Leadership: A 31-Day Plan to Motivate People, Communicate Positively, and Get Everyone On Your Side (Superstar: A 31 Day Plan)
by Rick Conlow Doug WatsabaughDiscover and implement “the most important, proven leadership principles and ideas” in just thirty-one days with this step-by-step manual (Ken Hicks, CEO/Chairman, Footlocker, Inc.).It is the rare excellent boss who can achieve great results by earning their staff’s loyalty and inspiring exemplary performance. Now you can learn the secrets of these Superstar leaders—and become one of them. Superstar Leadership examines the key habits of the best and worst bosses, identifying nine key performance drivers that are proven to increase and sustain results. Do you want to earn more money for your company? Electrify your department? Increase customer loyalty, sales, and productivity while simultaneously decreasing turnover, improving innovation, and having fun? With evaluations and activities designed to help you hones your leadership skills, you can achieve all of this.Superstar Leadership will teach you:Why fifty percent of managers fail, and how to avoid being one of themSeven keys to employee motivationThe high-performance formula that will catapult your career successThe nine strategies of a Superstar leaderHow to create a high-performing team and exceed your goalsAnd much more!
Superstition, Management and Organisations: Irrationality, Randomness, and Chaos in Decision Making (Palgrave Studies in Workplace Spirituality and Fulfillment)
by Joanna CrossmanThis book addresses how people and organisations sometimes respond to uncertainty in making decisions. Those decisions are rooted in beliefs and behaviours that are not always rational, especially in response to perceived randomness, chaos and unexpected circumstances. The author uses a transdisciplinary approach to the study of superstition in the context of business and management, taking care to acknowledge that what is regarded as superstition to one person may well be constructed as a spiritual belief by another. Respect and sensitivity in explicating individual and social constructions of spirituality is a core value in structuring the narrative of the text. The work also explores the interwoven relationships amongst superstition, religion, spirituality and empiricism and how cultural, political, economic and environmental factors are likely to influence organisations and those who are employed by them. Further, it examines the influence of beliefs related to topics such as feng shui, astrology, phrenology and the I Ching in recruitment. This comprehensive treatment of the role of superstition in business will advance the scholarly conversation on uncertainty in decision making. It points to the power of belief that defies empirical validation and how it can be used in a variety of contexts, such as the marketing of products and images to manipulate unwary consumers or inhibit the implementation of health advice in times of COVID-19.
Superteams: The Secrets of Stellar Performance from Seven Legendary Teams
by Khoi TuIn Superteams, renowned teamwork specialist Khoi Tu explains how to make sure your team delivers consistently superior results and emerges stronger from the inevitable crises you will face.What do the SAS, Ferrari and the Rolling Stones have in common? Their success is about much more than talented individuals. They are Superteams. Every organisation, whether a business or a sports club, lives or dies by the quality of its teamwork. No man can be an island for long; only great teams can face a crisis and emerge stronger. So how do you build the right team? Many people think of it like a rock supergroup: bring the best of the best together and magic will happen. Yet supergroups often flop, while bands of unknowns rise to the top. In this incisive and inspirational book, renowned teamwork specialist Khoi Tu explains how to make sure your team delivers consistently superior results, whatever your aim: averting business failure or resolving political conflict, dealing with a hostage situation or leading your team to sporting victory. Superteams takes seven legendary teams - including animation studio Pixar, Europe's 2010 Rider Cup winners, and the people behind the Northern Ireland peace process - and analyses their inner workings, evolution and defining moments. 'This book shows what people can do when the going gets tough and there's a goal to be achieved. Nice one Khoi' Jamie OliverKhoi Tu is a sought-after leadership and teamwork consultant. He has advised some of the world's most influential individuals and companies, including banks, oil giants, celebrity chefs, Formula One champions and private equity entrepreneurs. A graduate of LSE and INSEAD, he took key roles at Shell and online marketing specialist Razorfish. He founded the Panthea consultancy in 2002 and now runs the boutique advisory company Inverstar. www.superteams.org
Supertrends
by Lars TvedeThe 2008-2009 market meltdown and house price collapse has reset the credit and property cycles, and smart investors are now looking for the upside.But Where Will the Next Bull Runs Come From, and How Can Investors Take Advantage?The world is now facing staggering change, including exponential performance growth in many technologies. We can expect computers that are smarter than people, self-driven cars and a truly intelligent Internet. We are also facing a biotechnological revolution enabling personalized medicine, fourth generation biofuels, radical extension of human life expectancy, exponential growth in farm yields, and even the recreation of extinct species. Furthermore, our energy sector is facing a complete transformation which will eventually make our energy supply limitless. Meanwhile, our population will grow, age and urbanize, and - largely due to emerging market growth - global purchasing power will have quadrupled by 2050. What will this mean for commodity prices, the environment and growth sectors such as real estate, global finance and luxury?Supertrends explains not only what will happen, but also how and why. Having himself run several hugely profitable funds through seeking out long term opportunities and having set up and sold several award winning technology and new media companies, author Lars Tvede shows readers how to identify and profit from the investment opportunities of the future. If you need to be prepared for the rest of your life, this is the book for you.
Supertrends: 50 Things you Need to Know About the Future
by Lars TvedeTake a look into the future and discover the trends that are shaping our world Futurists are in the business of predicting the future. What do the most efficient futurists know? You’ll find the answer inside Supertrends: 50 Things You Need to Know About the Future. Discover how we can expect the world to evolve in terms of demographics, economics, technology, environment and beyond. Whatever it is that you do, you will be able to better prepare for the future if you can just get a clear view of it. These are turbulent times, and we all need to be ready for what’s coming if we hope to thrive. This book addresses what we can expect in the coming decades, and how companies and government should adapt to accelerating change. You will also see improvement in your own ability to predict the next big thing – a valuable skill in any walk of life. Discover the core principles of efficient forecasting Identify underlying drivers and recurring social patterns which help explain and predict events Learn about evolving and expected future technologies and lifestyles, and how they will be applied in the coming decades See how companies and governments can become more future-proof by adopting new and innovative management principles Author Lars Tvede is a serial entrepreneur and currently works as founding partner in the successful venture fund Nordic Eye, the think tank Futures Institute and the forecasting company Supertrends. Throughout his career, he has found success through his uncanny ability to predict the trends that will take our world forward. Read this book to benefit from his insights and get a handle on what’s coming next in our dynamic world. Anyone who needs to understand the future – from financial executives, industry leaders and entrepreneurs to journalists and politicians – will benefit from Supertrends.
Superusers: Design Technology Specialists and the Future of Practice
by Randy DeutschDesign technology is changing both architectural practice and the role of the architect and related design professionals. With new technologies and work processes appearing every week, how can practitioners be expected to stay on top and thrive? In a word, Superusers. Superusers: Design Technology Specialists and the Future of Practice will help you identify who they are, the value they provide, and how you can attract and retain them, and become one; what career opportunities they have, what obstacles they face, and how to lead them. Written by Randy Deutsch, a well-known expert in the field, this is the first-ever guide to help current and future design professionals to succeed in the accelerating new world of work and technology. Providing proven, practical advice, the book features: Unique, actionable insights from design technology leaders in practice worldwide The impacts of emerging technology trends such as generative design, automation, AI, and machine learning on practice Profiles of those who provide 20% of the effort but achieve 80% of the results, and how they do it What will help firms get from where they are today to where they need to be, to survive and thrive in the new world of design and construction. Revealing the dramatic impact of technology on current and future practice, Superusers shows what it means to be an architect in the 21st century. Essential reading for students and professionals, the book helps you plan for and navigate a fast-moving, uncertain future with confidence.
Superveloce: How Italian Cars Conquered the World
by Peter GrimsdaleIn 1950, at the first Formula One Grand Prix in Britain after World War II, 150,000 spectators, including the royal family, watch in dismay as Italy's Alfa Romeos take the first three places – ahead of seven more Italian Maseratis. In Paris, at the Salon d'Auto, Pininfarina's breathtakingly stylish Lancias, driven form Turin by the designer and his son, are denied entry. Parked outside, they nevertheless steal the show. How can it be that Italy, pummelled into submission by Allied bombs, is already setting new standards of speed and style that leave the rest of the world for dust? The answers lie deep in Italy's cultural heritage, in historic links between art and machine going back to Leonardo da Vinci. In Superveloce, Peter Grimsdale traces a century of Italian design genius and the rise of its great automotive dynasties, Ferrari, Farina, Maserati and Fiat's Agnellis. We see the lives of fiercely charismatic and competitive drivers like Ascari, Campari and Nuvolari, and explore the mystery of how a nation that never had an industrial revolution like Britain and France set standards of design innovation that other nations struggled to match. Grimsdale takes the reader on a journey of discovery through Italian history, design, speed and beautiful, beautiful cars.