How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise

Chris Taylor
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In 1973, a young filmmaker named George Lucas scribbled some notes for a far-fetched space-fantasy epic. More than forty years and $37 billion later, Star Wars–related products outnumber human beings, a stormtrooper army spans the globe, and “Jediism” has become a religion in its own right. Lucas’s creation has grown into far more than a cinematic classic; it is, quite simply, one of the most lucrative, influential, and interactive franchises of all time. Yet until now the complete history of Star Wars―its influences and impact, the controversies it has spawned, its financial growth and long-term prospects―has never been told.

In How Star Wars Conquered the Universe, veteran journalist Chris Taylor traces the series from the difficult birth of the original film through its sequels, the franchise’s death and rebirth, the prequels, and the preparations for a new trilogy. Taylor provides portraits of the friends, writers, artists, producers, and marketers who labored behind the scenes to turn Lucas’s idea into a legend. He also jousts with modern-day Jedi, tinkers with droid builders, and gets inside Boba Fett’s helmet, all to find out how Star Wars has attracted and inspired so many fans for so long.

Since the first film’s release in 1977, Taylor shows, Star Wars has conquered our culture with a sense of lightness and exuberance, while remaining serious enough to influence politics around the world and spread a spirituality that appeals to religious groups and atheists alike. Controversial digital upgrades and critically savaged prequels have actually made the franchise stronger than ever. Now, with a new set of savvy bosses holding the reins and Episode VII on the horizon, it looks like Star Wars is just getting started.

An energetic, fast-moving account of this creative and commercial phenomenon, How Star Wars Conquered the Universe explains how a filmmaker’s fragile dream beat out a surprising number of rivals and gained a die-hard, multigenerational fan base―and why it will be galvanizing our imaginations and minting money for generations to come.

(Excerpt from amazon.com)

Star Wars

Star Wars

小王子 (The Little Prince = Le Petit Prince)

安東尼‧聖修伯里 (Antoine de Saint-Exuper) 著
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享譽全球70年，每個人心中獨一無二的成人童話經典
譯本多達27國語言，僅次於聖經

一位來自某顆遙遠小星球的小王子，因為和一朵他深愛的玫瑰花兒鬧別扭，同時也懷著想要了解外面世界的渴望，離開自己的星球，進行了一場“星際旅行”。他走訪了不同的星球，見到了形形色色的人和事，這些人和事讓天真的小王子困惑迷茫，深感不解。最後他來到了地球，降落在沙漠上，在那裡遇到一位由於飛機發動機故障而迫降的飛行員，於是他們成了好朋友。旅行見聞，以及和飛行員的交流，讓小王子對世界、對生活、對愛有了新的認識，他像一位精靈一樣，道出許多人生真諦。同時也讓作為成年人，卻內心葆有童真的飛行員重新對生命進行了思考。

最終，本不屬於地球的小王子帶著對生命的感悟，在蛇的幫助下拋棄沉重肉身——以肉體死亡的方式——返回自己的星球，去照料他的世界，愛護他的玫瑰花兒。他的飛行員朋友則懷著淡淡的憂傷，想念著這位小朋友，品味著靈魂超脫的歡欣與孤獨……

(摘錄自douban.com)

Colonial Hong Kong in the Eyes of Elsie Tu

Du Ye Xien
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Elsie Tu is well known as a social activist and crusader against injustice and corruption in Hong Kong. In this powerful personal statement, she expresses her views about the injustices in the past colonial system and her fears about present day economic colonialism.

This is a book with strong messages for today. Mrs. Tu's deep concerns about the current international scene have the most immediate and obvious topical relevance. But there is an equally strong lesson in her description of the corruption that used to be so pervasive in Hong Kong and her battles against it. She reminds us forcefully of the need for continued vigilance if corruption and its awful effects are not to return.

However, the most important message of this book pervades all parts of it: the example of a life devoted to improving things for the ordinary people of Hong Kong, a life not just lived according to high principles, but characterized by a dogged and fearless determination to fight for those principles, to be an activist.

This book is important because it records the beliefs, some of the experiences and above all the commitment of one of the most notable people of post-war Hong Kong. By giving rich insights into the mind and beliefs of an extraordinary and indomitable person, it brings to life the recent history of Hong Kong and challenges the next generation of Hong Kong people to contribute as much.

Readers may have heard of Hong Kong's economic miracle during the second half of the twentieth century, but they may not be aware of the suffering and injustices caused by greed and corruption at that time. This book shows how the society's struggle stirred the spirit of determination upon which the Hong Kong we know today was built.

The book will also give readers a bird's eye view of the worldwide scale of suffering and injustices caused by nations seeking economic and political domination.

I write this book because I believe that human beings can only comprehend the present when they understand the past, and they can only make a better future when they learn from previous errors. And I feel compelled to alert the younger generation of the dangers that confront the world today from those obsessed with wealth and power. I hope that all prejudices and evil ambitions can be set aside, and an equal playing field can be created for all nations. - Elsie Tu

'With decidedly pro-grassroots sympathies, Mrs. Tu is fiercely critical of British colonialism with its corruption, hypocrisy, malpractice, racist and pro-big business bias in pre-1997 Hong Kong.? This book yields keen insights into and informed observations of government and community in colonial Hong Kong, often from a ring side, first-hand perspective.' - Professor Ming K. Chan, Hoover Institution, Stanford University

'Elsie Tu, a veteran activist and a former legislative councillor, told a fascinating story about post-World War II Hong Kong. Going through the volume, you will be amazed by the arrogance of the colonial officials, the rampart corruption in the Hong Kong government, the widespread influence of the triad, and the difficulties facing those living in the squatters and the resettlement estates in the 1950s and the 1960s. This book is indispensable for anyone who is interested in knowing about what Hong Kong was like before it was turned into an Asian little dragon.' - Professor Alvin Y. So, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

(Excerpt from cp1897.com.hk)

狄更斯文集----聖誕故事集 (A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Books)

狄更斯 (Charles Dickens) 著 
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online access from ProQuest Ebook Central (English)
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狄更斯所有作品中再版次數最多的作品。金庸最喜歡的一部聖誕故事集。書中的一些情節已經成為歐洲聖誕節的固定風俗，而主人公斯克魯濟（Scrooge）的名字也被收入字典，成為“吝嗇鬼”的同義詞。其中《聖誕頌歌》於1843年問世，是最受推崇的一部短篇小說。主人公斯克魯濟是一位商人，他成天與錢櫃、賬本和發票打交道，一生只知道賺錢，毫無人性。他克扣員工的工資，拒絕外甥的問候和祝福，不施捨分文給窮人。然而，平安夜出現的三個精靈帶領他回到了過去、現在和未來的一些生活情境，並讓斯克魯濟從自制的陷阱和枷鎖中解脫出來，領悟到聖誕節的意義和生活的意義。他在聖誕頌歌奏響時開始了自己新的人生。《古教堂的鐘聲》於1844年問世。小說的主人公是一位名叫托比的腳夫。此人因為肉體和精神上的摧殘而認同了富人對他們“天生就是壞人”的看法。銅鐘精靈讓他在新年鐘聲敲響之前做了一場噩夢。他終於認清了富人的偽善和自己應處的立場。作者抨擊了壓迫者，鼓舞了被壓迫的民眾。當教堂鐘敲響的那一刻，他終於擯棄了謊言而投奔了真理。聖誕頌歌奏響了，教堂鐘聲敲響了，讓我們翻開書頁尋找靈魂迷宮的出口。

(摘錄自douban.com) 

Christmas

The Other Kind of Smart: Simple Ways to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence for Greater Personal Effectiveness and Success

Harvey Deutschendorf
online access from Books24x7
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We have known for years that the difference between those who become successful in life and those who struggle is their degree of emotional intelligence (EI), or "people skills." Now, The Other Kind of Smart shows readers how they can increase their emotional intelligence and overcome the barriers that are preventing them from realizing their true potential. Emotional intelligence coach Harvey Deutschendorf has shown thousands of people how to relate emotional intelligence to everyday situations. Here, he uses the proven techniques of storytelling, combined with quotes and exercises, to show readers how to apply the principles of EI on the job. Filled with real-life scenarios and solutions, the book offers tools that will bring results in as little as five minutes a day and shows how to develop stress tolerance, cultivate empathy, increase flexibility with co-workers, boost assertiveness, and resolve problems successfully. Complete with an EI quiz that will help readers measure their own level of emotional intelligence, this invaluable guide will enable everyone to improve their relationships and increase their effectiveness at work in a practical, accessible way.

(Excerpt from amazon.com)

消費：浪漫流刑

陳智凱,邱詠婷 著 ; 陳沛珛 繪
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消費是一種犧牲自我的浪漫，浪漫不是面向出口，而是徘徊於入口出口之間，為了追尋失落，最後連自己也都遺失。浪漫的心靈是鞭長莫及，流亡是，唯一路徑，在模糊的時間疆界，在難以捉摸的移動，在一件尚未完成之前，就開始新的另外一件，在欲望和失望之間，一個煙廣無邊的流刑地，自我放逐……

(摘錄自博客來網路書店)