- Table View
- List View
Transferinnovationen und Innovationstransfer zwischen Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft: Grundlagen, Erkenntnisse und Praxisbeispiele
by Mario A. Pfannstiel Alma DautovicDieses Buch befasst sich mit Transferinnovationen und zeigt verschiedene Möglichkeiten für den Innovationstransfer zwischen Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft auf. Im Markt, der aus unterschiedlichen Branchen, Einrichtungen, Unternehmen und Gesellschaften besteht, werden Innovationen erzeugt, die wiederum Wachstum, Beschäftigung, Stabilität und Fortschritt ermöglichen. Mit innovativen Ideen, Vorgehensweisen und Methoden verändert sich das Wissen im Bereich Forschung und Entwicklung, wodurch es auf ein neues Niveau steigt. Hochschulen sind neben Unternehmen Ausgangspunkte für Innovationen, die durch neue Lösungsansätze entstehen. Durch Unternehmen, die mit Partnern und Netzwerken kollaborieren, breiten sich Innovationen im Markt und in allen gesellschaftlichen Bereichen aus. Unternehmen profitieren von Innovationen durch den Verkauf und die Befriedigung der Kundenbedürfnisse. Der Staat setzt die Rahmenbedingen für Innovationen und den Einsatz von neuen Technologien. Erst der Austausch „Transfer“ zwischen den einzelnen Akteuren ermöglicht die Entstehung marktfähiger Innovationen, die durch einen hohen Kundennutzen gekennzeichnet sind.Neben theoretischen Grundlagen und wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen zum Transferverständnis vermittelt das Herausgeberwerk praktisches Handlungswissen, ausgewählte Praxisbeispiele und innovative Lösungsansätze.Das Buch richtet sich einerseits an Dienstleistende, die sich mit Transferinnovationen und dem Innovationstransfer beschäftigen, Transferbeauftragte, Projektmanager und andere Personen mit Entscheidungsbefugnis. Andererseits adressiert es WissenschaftlerInnen und Dozierende mit den Schwerpunktfächern Wissens- und Technologietransfer, Innovations- und Transfermanagement, Business Management und Entrepreneurship. Zu den weiteren Zielgruppen zählen Innovation Hubs und Labs, Transferstellen, -netzwerke und -agenturen, Beratungsunternehmen und Institutionen für Forschung und Entwicklung.
Biomaterial-based Hydrogels: Therapeutics Carrier and Tissue Regeneration
by Sougata JanaThis book highlights recent advances in natural and synthetic biomaterials-based hydrogel for drug delivery carriers and tissue engineering. It covers key topics such as chitosan, alginate, gelatin, cyclodextrin, cellulose, starch, hyaluronic acid, dextran, collagen hydrogel, Injectable hydrogel magnetic hydrogel, DNA-based hydrogels, 3D printing of hydrogels, hydrogel for bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, etc. Each chapter develops a particular aspect of recent advances in biomaterial-based Hydrogels delivery systems to cover the importance, fabrication technology, characterization, evaluation, delivery of therapeutic and biomedical applications, and future perspectives. Written by a group of renowned scientists, chemists, biologists, and engineers from around the world, the book is designed as an important reference resource for scientists and researchers working on advanced biomaterials in the fields of pharmaceuticals, biomedical science, biomedical engineering,nanotechnology, and material science for most updated findings and future research trends.
Ecology of Wildlife Diseases in the Neotropics
by Gerardo Acosta-Jamett Andrea ChavesThis contributed volume focuses on the Neotropical region, and explores the environmental, ecological and socio-economic components that facilitate the emergence of zoonotic diseases. This book highlights the primary ecological, environmental, social, and economic variables associated with the risk of maintenance, transmission, and dissemination of emerging, re-emerging, and neglected infectious diseases, in which Neotropical vertebrates are involved. It compiles up-to-date knowledge and research for the neotropical region, as well as discusses the current needs of knowledge improvement. The chapters include various examples of the cycles of infectious diseases, all with world-wide relevance where neotropical wild vertebrates are affected or involved.
Strategic Blueprint for Enterprise Analytics: Integrating Advanced Analytics into Data-Driven Business (Studies in Big Data #150)
by Liang Wang Jianxin ZhaoThis book is a comprehensive guide for professionals, leaders, and academics seeking to unlock the power of data and analytics in the modern business landscape. It delves deeply into the strategic, architectural, and managerial aspects of implementing enterprise analytics (EA) systems in large enterprises. The book is meticulously structured into three parts. Part 1 lays the foundation for adaptable architecture in EA. Part 2 explores technical considerations: data, cloud platforms, and AI solutions. The final part focuses on strategy execution, investment, and risk management. Acting as a comprehensive guide, the book enables the creation of robust EA capabilities that foster growth, optimize operations, and keep pace with EA's dynamic world. Whether readers are leaders harnessing data's potential, practitioners navigating analytics, or academics exploring this evolving domain, this book provides insights and knowledge to guide readers toward a thriving, data-driven future.
Fossil Fuels in the European Union: Geopolitical Change, Climate Policy and Financing Conditions (Lecture Notes in Energy #99)
by Zbigniew Korzeb Paweł Niedziółka Kari Liuhto Agnieszka Bryc Dorota Niedziółka Maciej MrózThis book identifies scenarios for changes in transmission infrastructure, contracting, consumption patterns and fossil fuel financing policies, considering climate goals and the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine. The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation has fundamentally changed the geopolitical situation, approaches to energy security issues, the EU’s energy (in)dependence and the implementation of previously outlined climate policies, including the planned gradual withdrawal from fossil fuels.This book presents the geopolitical architecture, energy mix, energy fuel supply structure, long-term energy policy and financing conditions of the oil and gas and sectors in the EU in the period preceding and following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The authors consider the date of Russia’s attack on Ukraine as a symbolic caesura marking the beginning of the process of creating a new energy order in the EU. A novel part of the book is the attention it pays to the role of the credit and investment policy of the EU banking sector in relation to carbon-intensive sectors and to the significance of the financial system from the point of view of the effectiveness of international sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation, including, above all, sanctions related to the fossil fuel sector. The book is of interest to researchers and all those interested in learning about these subjects.
Religion, Mysticism, and Transcultural Entanglements in Modern South Asia: Towards a Global Religious History
by Soumen MukherjeeThis book explores the location of spirituality and mysticism in modern Indian religious and intellectual life. It examines select personalities and their ideas since the early twentieth century, their role in the interwoven spheres of socio-religious and political thought, and in burgeoning spiritual imaginaries, often at the intersection of academic and public discourse. As part of a global ecumene connected by affective bonds, these spiritual cosmopolitans often defied binary frameworks (East/ West; imperial core/ periphery; colonizer/ colonized), and in the upshot reappraised and recast the very concept of religion in response to overarching ‘this-worldly’ exigencies.
The Eastern Shore: A Novel
by Ward JustA novel about journalism and one man&’s moral choices, &“evoking the rhythms of Ernest Hemingway&’s early fiction . . . A quietly affecting, mournful achievement&” (Richmond Times-Dispatch). Ned Ayres has never wanted anything but a newspaper career. His defining moment comes early, when Ned is city editor of his hometown paper. One of his beat reporters fields a tip: William Grant, the town haberdasher, married to the bank president&’s daughter and the father of two children, once served six years in Joliet. The story runs—Ned offers no resistance to his publisher&’s argument that the public has a right to know. The consequences, swift and shocking, haunt him throughout a long career—until eventually, as the editor of a major newspaper in post-Kennedy Washington, DC, Ned has reason to return to the question of privacy and its many violations.
The Pirates Laffite: The Treacherous World of the Corsairs of the Gulf
by William C. DavisAn &“engrossing and exciting&” account of legendary New Orleans privateers Pierre and Jean Laffite and their adventures along the Gulf Coast (Booklist, starred review). At large during the most colorful period in New Orleans&’ history, from just after the Louisiana Purchase through the War of 1812, privateers Jean and Pierre Laffite made life hell for Spanish merchants on the Gulf. Pirates to the US Navy officers who chased them, heroes to the private citizens who shopped for contraband at their well-publicized auctions, the brothers became important members of a filibustering syndicate that included lawyers, bankers, merchants, and corrupt US officials. But this allegiance didn&’t stop the Laffites from becoming paid Spanish spies, disappearing into the fog of history after selling out their own associates. William C. Davis uncovers the truth about two men who made their names synonymous with piracy and intrigue on the Gulf.
Prince of Peace
by James CarrollNew York Times Bestseller: A priest struggles against the Vietnam War—and his own passions—in &“a classic page-turner&” (Chicago Tribune). Vietnam was bitterly contested not only on the battlefields of Southeast Asia but on the American home front. This novel filled with &“probing psychological detail&” follows Michael Maguire—a Catholic priest, Korean War hero, and former POW—who risks everything as he fights to be true to his heart and his conscience during the tumult of the era (The Washington Post). From the author of The Cloister, Prince of Peace is a thrilling saga of faith, truth, and honor, &“so rich and vital it leaves you breathless&” (Chicago Tribune).
Drowning in Gruel: Stories
by George SingletonTake a darkly hilarious trip through a South Carolina town with the &“unchallenged king of the comic Southern short story&” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). &“Usually stories about small, quirky, southern towns are full of adorable, quirky characters that share their unusual philosophies with us and teach us how to enjoy life (think Forrest Gump or even Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil). Gruel may be small, southern, and quirky, but it is also as miserable as its name sounds. The inhabitants are miserable. Even people from as far away as New York who happen to stop by Gruel are miserable . . . Fortunately, the writing is good enough that the misery becomes somehow enjoyable.&” —Booklist &“George Singleton is a madman. He&’s also one of the most talented American writers the South has turned out in decades.&” —The Post and Courier
Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder
by Kenn KaufmanAn ornithologist&’s account of his youthful, year-long, cross-country birdwatching adventure: &“A fascinating memoir of an obsession.&” —Booklist At sixteen, Kenn Kaufman dropped out of the high school where he was student council president and hit the road, hitching back and forth across America, from Alaska to Florida, Maine to Mexico. Maybe not all that unusual a thing to do in the seventies, but what Kenn was searching for was a little different: not sex, drugs, God, or even self, but birds. A report of a rare bird would send him hitching nonstop from Pacific to Atlantic and back again. When he was broke he would pick fruit or do odd jobs to earn the fifty dollars or so that would last him for weeks. His goal was to set a record—most North American species seen in a year—but along the way he began to realize that at this breakneck pace he was only looking, not seeing. What had been a game became a quest for a deeper understanding of the natural world. Kingbird Highway is a unique coming-of-age story, combining a lyrical celebration of nature with wild, and sometimes dangerous, adventures, starring a colorful cast of characters.
The Sonic Boom: How Sound Transforms the Way We Think, Feel, and Buy
by Joel Beckerman Tyler GrayA fascinating study on the influence of sound—and how companies wrangle its power to affect our moods, our shopping habits, and our lives. From movie scores and national anthems to cell-phone dings and squeaky shoes, sound and music impact how we perceive the stories, situations, and products we encounter every day. In The Sonic Boom, composer and strategic sound expert Joel Beckerman reveals sound&’s surprising power to influence our decisions, opinions, and actions in ways we might not even notice: discordant ambient noise can induce anxiety; ice cream truck jingles can bring you back to your childhood. You don&’t need to be a musician or a composer to harness the power of sound. Companies, brands, and individuals can strategically use sound to get to the core of their mission, influence how they&’re perceived by their audiences, and gain a competitive edge. Whether you&’re a corporate giant connecting with millions of customers or a teacher connecting with one classroom of students, the key to an effective sonic strategy is the creation of &“boom moments&”—transcendent instants when sound connects with a listener&’s emotional core. &“Equal parts sociological study and business advice, using unique everyday examples—for instance, how the fate of the Chili&’s fajita empire rested on the sound of the sizzling platter, and how Disneyland approaches soundscapes for a fully immersive experience—to explain how sound effects our mood and shopping habits.&” —Entertainment Weekly &“Music defines us. Joel Beckerman knows. Let him tell you all about it.&” —Anthony Bourdain &“The Sonic Boom reveals the music and structured cacophony of everyday life.&” —Moby
Friendship: An Expose
by Joseph EpsteinThe amusing and erudite anatomy of modern friendship, from the New York Times–bestselling author of Snobbery. Is it possible to have too many friends? Is your spouse supposed to be your best friend? How far should you go to help a friend in need? And how do you end a friendship that has run its course? In a &“smart, delightfully literate, and sophisticated&” anatomy of friendship in all its contemporary guises, Joseph Epstein uncovers the rich and surprising truths about our favored companions (Los Angeles Times). Friendship illuminates those complex, wonderful relationships without which we&’d all be lost. &“Reading [Epstein] is like spending an evening being flatteringly entertained by the most interesting guy at the party.&” —The Seattle Times &“A brilliant and outspoken commentator . . . Epstein&’s graceful style and irrepressible wit provide unalloyed pleasure.&” —Chicago Tribune &“Brisk and delightful.&” —The Wall Street Journal
The Word According to Eve: Women and the Bible in Ancient Times and Our Own
by Cullen Murphy“A disarming, intelligent, and timely book” that re-examines religious history and scripture with a focus on the feminine experience (The New York Times). In the world that created the Bible, there were no female scholars and theologians, yet in recent decades, owing to such stunning discoveries as the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi texts, as well as advances in historical understanding and the rise of feminism, a generation of scholars has found new ways to interpret the Scriptures and the societies that created them—exploring avenues traditionally ignored by male-dominated religious study.Surveying the new scholarship and the personalities of those who have created it, The Word According to Eve not only explores afresh the history of our religions but offers exciting new challenges to our sense of worship.“Provocative and lucid . . . an engaging book.” —The Boston Globe
The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins: A Novel (Thomas Hawkins Ser.)
by Antonia HodgsonA lively tale of &“pitch-perfect suspense&” set in eighteenth-century England—one of Publishers Weekly&’s Top Ten Crime/Mystery Novels of the Year. Winner of the CWA Historical Dagger Award London, 1728. Tom Hawkins is headed to the gallows, accused of murder. Gentlemen don&’t hang, and Tom will be damned if he&’s the first—he is innocent, after all. It&’s hard to say when Tom&’s troubles began. He was happily living in sin with his beloved—though their neighbors weren&’t happy about that. He probably shouldn&’t have told London&’s great criminal mastermind that he was in need of adventure. Nor should he have joined the king&’s mistress in her fight against her vindictive husband. And he definitely shouldn&’t have trusted the calculating Queen Caroline. She&’s promised him a royal pardon if he holds his tongue, but there&’s nothing more silent than a hanged man. Now Tom&’s scrambling to save his life and protect those he loves. But as the noose tightens, his time is running out.
The Patron Saint of Ugly
by Marie ManillaCatholic lore, American tales, and Sicilian superstition blend in this &“clever, funny, heartbreaking, and heartwarming&” novel (Publishers Weekly). Born with unruly red hair, a sharp tongue, and wine-colored marks all over her body—marks that oddly mimick a map of the world and make her subject to endless ridicule—Garnet Ferrari would hardly consider herself blessed. So when an emissary from the Vatican shows up at her door, convinced that her seeming ability to cure the skin ailments of others qualifies her for sainthood, she&’s not quite convinced—or pleased. Garnet sets off on a quest to better understand who she is and where she and her unusual gifts came from. Tracing a twisted path that leads from Sicily to West Virginia, poverty to riches, romance to loss, reality to mythology, Garnet uncovers a truth far more powerful than any dermatological miracle: that the things of which we are most ashamed often become our greatest strengths. &“A cleareyed, touching fable of a girl learning the hard truths about herself and others.&” —Kirkus Reviews
Führungsaufgabe Interne Kommunikation: Erfolgreich in Unternehmen kommunizieren – im Alltag und in Veränderungsprozessen
by Andrea MontuaDies ist ein Buch für alle Führungskräfte, Kommunikations- und Personalverantwortlichen, die ihre Rolle als Kommunikatoren überdenken und neu justieren möchten. Alle, die die Hoheit über ihre Alltags- und Veränderungskommunikation behalten oder zurückgewinnen wollen, die Gerüchteküchen durchlüften, Erfolgsrezepte umsetzen oder eine Abteilung neu zusammenstellen wollen, finden in diesem Buch konkrete Hilfestellungen. Sie erfahren, was Mitarbeitende antreibt und motiviert, welche Unterstützung Führungskräfte wirklich benötigen und wie Kommunikation den Change ideal begleitet.Mit Vorworten von Sebastian Purps-Pardigol und Thomas Voigt.
Party System Changes and Challenges to Democracy: Slovenia in a Comparative Perspective
by Danica Fink-HafnerThis open access book focuses on the nexus between “party system stability” and “democratic consolidation”, using Slovenia as a case study. Its findings are presented from a comparative perspective to illustrate the commonalities and differences found in research on Central European post-socialist countries and former Yugoslav countries. On the one hand, Slovenia’s characteristics (including the characteristics of its transition to democracy) are far more similar to those of Central European post-socialist countries than Western Balkan countries. On the other, Slovenia shares some similarities with other parts of the former Yugoslavia – especially its experiences with the political system of socialist self-management, elements of a market economy under socialism, and war following the end of socialism (albeit the conflict in Slovenia was very short and rather mild in comparison to those in other parts of socialist Yugoslavia). Slovenia’s experiences with rapid but limited democraticbacksliding under the Janša government (March 2019–June 2022) were halted by the 2022 national election – in contrast to the more widely known cases of Hungary and Poland, where such backsliding took place incrementally over a longer period of time that included several election cycles.
Biomass-based Clean Technologies for Sustainable Development: Sustainable Resources of Energy Production and Utilization (Clean Energy Production Technologies)
by Dan Bahadur Pal Ashish KapoorThis book explores the comprehensive world of biomass-based clean technologies for sustainable development. The meticulously curated book delves into the latest advancements, process and product development aspects, and socio-techno-economic viability of biomass-derived solutions. The book aims to explore cutting-edge strategies and innovative approaches to revolutionize energy and environmental sectors on a global scale. The book covers a wide range of scientific and technological fields, shedding light on the utilization of agricultural and forest-derived biomass. Multifarious applications in biofuels, biochar, natural composites, construction materials, and value-added chemicals are explored. The book is an attempt to impart knowledge to address challenging aspects like feedstock variability, supply chain management, process optimization, product standardization, environmental impact, net carbon footprint, and economic viability. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and harnessing the renewable nature of biomass, this book offers a holistic approach to develop novel and sustainable solutions. Researchers, scientists, engineers, and professionals from diverse backgrounds will find this book to be an invaluable resource. Policymakers and industry leaders seeking to drive the adoption of clean and green technologies will gain crucial insights. Students and academics will benefit from the latest advancements in biomass-based clean technologies, process and product development aspects, and sustainability assessments. This book is an essential companion for those dedicated to shaping a greener future and will inspire public-private collaborations and innovative research endeavours.
The First Discriminant Theory of Linearly Separable Data: From Exams and Medical Diagnoses with Misclassifications to 169 Microarrays for Cancer Gene Diagnosis
by Shuichi ShinmuraThis book deals with the first discriminant theory of linearly separable data (LSD), Theory3, based on the four ordinary LSD of Theory1 and 169 microarrays (LSD) of Theory2. Furthermore, you can quickly analyze the medical data with the misclassified patients which is the true purpose of diagnoses. Author developed RIP (Optimal-linear discriminant function finding the combinatorial optimal solution) as Theory1 in decades ago, that found the minimum misclassifications. RIP discriminated 63 (=26−1) models of Swiss banknote (200*6) and found the minimum LSD: basic gene set (BGS). In Theory2, RIP discriminated Shipp microarray (77*7129) which was LSD and had only 32 nonzero coefficients (first Small Matryoshka; SM1). Because RIP discriminated another 7,097 genes and found SM2, the author developed the Matryoshka feature selection Method 2 (Program 3), that splits microarray into many SMs. Program4 can split microarray into many BGSs. Then, the wide columnLSD (Revolution-0), such as microarray (n Theory3 shows the surprising results of six ordinary data re-analyzed by Theory1 and Theory2 knowledge. Essence of Theory3 is described by using cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD) data. RIP discriminates CPD data (240*19) and finds two misclassifications unique for cesarean and natural-born groups. CPD238 omitting two patients becomes LSD, which is the first case selection method. Program4 finds BGS (14 vars.) the only variable selection method for Theory3. 32 (=25) models, including BGS, become LSD among (219−1) models. Because Program2 confirms BGS has the minimum average error rate, BGS is the most compact and best model satisfying Occam’s Razor. With this book, physicians obtain complete diagnostic results for disease, and engineers can become a true data scientist, by obtaining integral knowledge ofstatistics and mathematical programming with simple programs.
Pflanzen und Haut: Dermatologisch bedeutsame Abwehrstrategien der Pflanzen in Europa
by Andreas MontagDieses Buch beschreibt die Gesamtheit aller dermatologisch bedeutsamen Abwehrmechanismen der Pflanzenwelt als eigenständiges Arbeitsgebiet innerhalb des Fachgebietes Dermatologie und aller dermatologisch beeinflussten Gebiete innerhalb der Medizin.Mit einer für dieses Werk speziell erarbeiteten Systematik ordnet der Autor klar gegliedert und didaktisch nachvollziehbar die außerordentliche Vielfalt pflanzlicher Abwehrmechanismen und deren Auswirkung auf Haut und Schleimhäute.Im Mittelpunkt stehen dabei die Pflanzen innerhalb des geografischen Europas. Ausführlich besprochen werden aber auch zahlreiche eingebürgerte oder importierte Arten aus aller Welt, die hier als Nutz- oder Zierpflanzen inzwischen unverzichtbar zum Alltag gehören.Neben den mechanischen Auswirkungen von Pflanzenhaaren, Stacheln und Dornen stehen dabei pflanzliche Wirkstoffe im Fokus, die einzeln oder in Kombination verschiedenste Formen von Reizwirkungen oder Allergien an der Haut und den Schleimhäuten des Menschen auslösen können.Der erste, allgemeine Teil dieses Buches behandelt eingehend die wissenschaftlichen Grundlagen. Ein zweiter, spezieller Teil ergänzt dies durch zahlreiche Steckbriefe in alphabetischer Reihenfolge mit Informationen zu allen wichtigen Pflanzenspezies.Zahlreiche klinische Bilder und Fallbeschreibungen illustrieren die medizinische Bedeutung pflanzlicher Abwehrmaßnahmen und geben Hilfestellungen bei Diagnostik und Behandlung.Besondere Beachtung findet innerhalb der Steckbriefe aber auch die Darstellung der medizinischen Nutzwirkungen einer Pflanze in ihrer historischen Entwicklung bis zum heutigen Tag. Aus vielen ihrer Nutzwirkungen lassen sich auch die Schadwirkungen einer Pflanze ableiten.Dieses Buch möchte eine Hilfe im ärztlichen Alltag sein und richtet sich an Dermatologen, Allergologen, Allgemeinärzte und hausärztlich tätige Internisten, aber auch an alle anderen interessierten Fachgruppen. Pflanzen und Haut
Spark: How to Lead Yourself and Others to Greater Success
by Angie Morgan Courtney Lynch Sean LynchThe New York Times–bestselling, non-nonsense guide to becoming a better leader through 7 key behaviors, based on a mix of military and corporate training. Leadership is not about job titles—it&’s about action and behavior. &“Sparks&” are the doers, thinkers, innovators, and key influencers who are catalysts for personal and organizational change. But these extraordinary individuals aren&’t defined by the place they hold on an organizational chart—they are defined by their actions, commitment, and will. Leadership experts Angie Morgan, Courtney Lynch, and Sean Lynch show how you can become a Spark by cultivating seven key leadership behaviors. Grounded in the latest research on leadership development, this fresh, accessible road map is packed with real-world stories from inside companies like Facebook, Google, and Boston Scientific, and from the authors&’ own high-stakes, challenging experiences serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. With SPARK as a blueprint, anyone can become a catalyst for change, and any organization can identify and develop Sparks.&“A myth-destroying book that will make you rethink both the theory and practice of leadership.&”—Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Drive&“If you truly want to become a Spark in your organization and in your life, I urge you to read this book now.&”—Mike &“Coach K&” Krzyzewski, head coach, Duke University Men&’s Basketball&“These authors are not only great leadership thinkers, but they have all led people in challenging circumstances…. Trust them to take you to a new level.&”—Brigadier General Thomas A. Kolditz, U.S. Army (Ret.), director of the Ann and John Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University
Small Memories: A Memoir
by José SaramagoThe Nobel Prize–winning author of Blindness recalls the days of his youth in Lisbon and the Portuguese countryside in this charming memoir.José Saramago was eighteen months old when he moved from the village of Azinhaga with his father and mother to live in Lisbon. But he would return to the village throughout his childhood and adolescence to stay with his maternal grandparents, illiterate peasants in the eyes of the outside world, but a fount of knowledge, affection, and authority to young José. Small Memories traces the formation of a man who emerged, against all odds, as one of the world’s most respected writers.Shifting between childhood and his teenage years, between Azinhaga and Lisbon, this mosaic of memories looks back into the author’s boyhood: the tragic death of his older brother at the age of four; his mother pawning the family’s blankets every spring and buying them back in time for winter; his grandparents bringing the weaker piglets into their bed on cold nights; and Saramago’s early encounters with literature, from teaching himself to read to poring over a Portuguese-French conversation guide, not realizing that he was in fact reading a play by Molière.
The Heart You Carry Home: A Novel
by Jennifer MillerA novel about men returning from war, and the women who love them, by &“a young writer full of energy and promise&” (Jennifer Egan, author of Manhattan Beach). Becca Keller is no stranger to the way war can change a man. Her Vietnam veteran father, King, suffered after his service, and as a result played only a limited role in his daughter&’s life. Now Becca is marrying Ben, who is also just back from battle—and her mother, convinced that Becca is making the same mistakes she did, boycotts the wedding. Ben does indeed seem different after his second tour, and only days after she marries him, he turns dangerous. Desperate, Becca turns to her father for help. But he is heading west with his motorcycle buddies—out to a place they call Kleos, a mysterious desert compound ruled over by a guru-like commanding officer. It serves as a refuge for some soldiers, but it might be the death of others. There, Becca will be faced with the possibility that she may not know the real damage in her loved ones&’ hearts. In finally seeing her father&’s demons, she might just be able to start a journey back to peace with her husband.
Death with Interruptions
by José SaramagoThis novel by the Nobel Prize-winning author asks what happens when the grim reaper decides to stop reaping: &“A novel to die for.&”—The Washington Post On the first day of the new year, no one dies. This of course causes consternation among politicians, religious leaders, morticians, and doctors. Among the general public, on the other hand, there is initially celebration—flags are hung out on balconies, people dance in the streets. They have achieved the great goal of humanity: eternal life. Then reality hits home—families are left to care for the permanently dying, life-insurance policies become meaningless, and funeral parlors are reduced to arranging burials for pet dogs, cats, hamsters, and parrots. Death sits in her chilly apartment, where she lives alone with scythe and filing cabinets, and contemplates her experiment: What if no one ever died again? What if she, death with a small d, were to become human and fall in love? &“This novel has many pleasures.&”—The New York Times &“Arguably the greatest writer of our time.&”—Chicago Tribune