CHAT (The Quantum Architects Book 1) by Peter Lihou (6 Reviews)    Price verified 35 minutes ago

The social media giants of the early decades in the 21st century have died and been replaced by 'CHAT', a new artificial intelligence network built on a powerful quantum computer, affectionately called the 'Engine'. Avoiding the failings of its predecessors, CHAT has become ubiquitous. A key feature is the network's ability to translate any language to the language of the user, in real time; meaning that everyone around the world can speak to each other as if they are all speaking the same language. CHAT's artificial intelligence was developed at a remote campus of Cambridge University in Warwick, England. The academics at Warwick, led by Professor Nick Caine, continue to search for new human, as well as non-human languages, to extend the capabilities of the Engine. The Engine polls the Internet for signals by connecting to a wide range of equipment, from wildlife monitors to space stations. But one mysterious signal initially eludes the powerful translation abilities of the Engine. The signal, codenamed Alpha285, gets the attention of one of the university department's sponsors; the US military intelligence agency. As Alpha285, gradually reveals more about its origins, Nick is subjected to increasing pressure from the agency and their CIA associates to hand over control of what is rapidly becoming the most significant event in the history of mankind. Set in a future where the legacy of past generations' environmental abuse has come home to roost and human ingenuity has created innovative solutions in an attempt to arrest the damage, the pursuit of knowledge about Alpha285 becomes fraught with danger and intrigue.

Genre: Politics & Social Sciences

Weapons of Mass Deterrence: The Secret Behind Israel's Nuclear Power by Dan Sagir (12 Reviews)    Price verified 50 minutes ago

"What we need is deterrence, not victory in war." -- David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister. Since its inception, the State of Israel has had to confront the issue of its very survival in the region. It was this concern that led Ben-Gurion to pursue a project that eventually became the "Dimona" nuclear project - an "open secret" that later turned Israel into a de facto nuclear state in the Middle East. Paradoxically, the best weapon Israel has in its arsenal is the one it has never openly acknowledged. But how does Israel's opaque nuclear deterrence work? How has Israel's hidden power affected the decision-making of seemingly unrestrained Arab state leaders like Saddam Hussein and the Ayatollah regime in Iran? And what will Israel's strategy become in the face of the potential loss of its nuclear monopoly? The first book of its kind, Weapons of Mass Deterrence reveals how Israel's undeclared nuclear capabilities became an integral part of its general strategy to survive in the Middle East. Veteran Israeli journalist Dan Sagir puts together an eye-opening and captivating account of the Israeli nuclear dimension of the conflict, peering into the state of mind of both its leaders and its enemies. Sagir expertly navigates the complicated timeline of the Dimona project's impact, including the vocal opposition and cautious support it garnered, the international prices Israel had to pay, and the security it seemingly provided. With excerpts from the "Saddam Hussein Records" and hundreds of files, interviews, articles, and sources, Weapons of Mass Deterrence exposes the real secret behind the most speculated topic in international politics. Sagir's intimate knowledge and years of meticulous research are distilled into a gripping, never-seen-before document chronicling the project that shaped the face of the State of Israel, the Middle East, and the global political landscape.

Genre: Politics & Social Sciences

Contemplations: A Different Path To The Sacred by Aenga Besceawung (1 Review)    Price verified 15 minutes ago

Contemplations is a radical departure from mainstream thought on matters of culture, religion, and philosophy for the simple reason that it offers to one who chooses to see as I have seen, an experiential, open, and earnest path to the Sacred in this time of spiritual deception, blind grasping for purchase on purpose, and chronic longing for a crumb of dignity and for a taste of meaning in life. Set your expectations from the beginning: Contemplations is not an instruction manual to health, wealth, and happiness. It does not moralize at you or wield the whip of shame to force you to conform. It will not give you the means to unlock mysterious or ethereal magic of ancients as all such things are lures for the simple, crutches for the foolish, and deceit for the gullible. Contemplations earnestly offers another path based upon experience and observation. It avails you of the choice to benefit from what you will build upon its teachings within your life rather than to be bound to only what is approved. It leads to a path of your own should you choose to make it so.

Genre: Politics & Social Sciences