Energy and Civilization: A History

by Vaclav Smil
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A comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society throughout history, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel--driven civilization.

Energy is the only universal currency; it is necessary for getting anything done. The conversion of energy on Earth ranges from terra-forming forces of plate tectonics to cumulative erosive effects of raindrops. Life on Earth depends on the photosynthetic conversion of solar energy into plant biomass. Humans have come to rely on many more energy flows -- ranging from fossil fuels to photovoltaic generation of electricity -- for their civilized existence. In this monumental history, Vaclav Smil provides a comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel--driven civilization.

Humans are the only species that can systematically harness energies outside their bodies, using the power of their intellect and an enormous variety of artifacts -- from the simplest tools to internal combustion engines and nuclear reactors. The epochal transition to fossil fuels affected everything: agriculture, industry, transportation, weapons, communication, economics, urbanization, quality of life, politics, and the environment. Smil describes humanity's energy eras in panoramic and interdisciplinary fashion, offering readers a magisterial overview. This book is an extensively updated and expanded version of Smil's Energy in World History (1994). Smil has incorporated an enormous amount of new material, reflecting the dramatic developments in energy studies over the last two decades and his own research over that time.

(Excerpt from amazon.com)

老子四種

(魏)王弼 等
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成書於先秦的《老子》一書，是道家學說的核心，也是形塑中華文明的重要典籍。歷代有關《老子》的注釋中，以曹魏《王弼注》及漢代《河上公注》為必讀之作。此外，1973年於長沙出土的馬王堆帛書《老子》甲、乙本，1993年於湖北省出土的郭店竹簡《老子》甲、乙、丙三篇，皆與傳世版本多有差異，亦是研讀《老子》必備的資料。

上述四種文獻合刊為《老子四種》，並重加標點、精心排印，改進歷來版本經注混雜、眉目不清的缺點。使讀者在研讀《老子》之時，能相互參照，成為最精審可靠的讀本。

(摘錄自博客來網路書店)


《道德經》是春秋時期老子（李耳）的哲學作品，又稱《道德真經》、《老子》、《五千言》、《老子五千文》，是中國古代先秦諸子分家前的一部著作，為其時諸子所共仰，是道家哲學思想的重要來源。道德經分上下兩篇，原文上篇《德經》、下篇《道經》，不分章，後改為《道經》37章在前，第38章之後為《德經》，並分為81章。

《道德經》，文本以哲學意義之“道德”為綱宗，論述修身、治國、用兵、養生之道，而多以政治為旨歸，乃所謂“內聖外王”之學，文意深奧，包涵廣博，被譽為萬經之王。

(摘錄自百度百科)

The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism

Olivia Fox Cabane
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What if charisma could be taught? 

The charisma myth is the idea that charisma is a fundamental, inborn quality—you either have it (Bill Clinton, Steve Jobs, Oprah) or you don’t. But that’s simply not true, as Olivia Fox Cabane reveals. Charismatic behaviors can be learned and perfected by anyone.

Drawing on techniques she originally developed for Harvard and MIT, Cabane breaks charisma down into its components. Becoming more charismatic doesn’t mean transforming your fundamental personality. It’s about adopting a series of specific practices that fit in with the personality you already have.

The Charisma Myth shows you how to become more influential, more persuasive, and more inspiring.

(Excerpt from amazon.com)

上一堂最生動的國際關係 : 20部經典電影, 告訴你世界原來是這個樣子

蔡增家
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敘利亞男童艾倫，為何會死在土耳其海灘上？
為什麼美國擊斃賓拉登，恐怖主義仍舊方興未艾？
為什麼歐巴馬當選總統，美國種族問題反而激化？
催生緬甸成為民主國家的翁山蘇姬，卻不太具備人道精神？
墨西哥人為何感嘆「離天堂太遠，離美國太近」？

透過電影探索世界，提升你的國際觀與競爭力！

國際觀是什麼？大前研一這樣定義：「知道世界發生什麼事，並且對這些事有提出觀點的能力。」

藉由重大國際事件沿革與國際情勢發展解析，配合相關經典電影作品簡介，諸如《亞果出任務》《以愛之名：翁山蘇姬》《美味情書》《追風箏的孩子》等，告訴你如何掌握絢爛螢幕背後的真實世界，形塑看世界的觀點。

(摘錄自cp1897.com.hk)

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Cal Newport
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One of the most valuable skills in our economy is becoming increasingly rare. If you master this skill, you'll achieve extraordinary results.

Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship. In short, deep work is like a super power in our increasingly competitive twenty-first century economy. And yet, most people have lost the ability to go deep-spending their days instead in a frantic blur of e-mail and social media, not even realizing there's a better way.

In DEEP WORK, author and professor Cal Newport flips the narrative on impact in a connected age. Instead of arguing distraction is bad, he instead celebrates the power of its opposite. Dividing this book into two parts, he first makes the case that in almost any profession, cultivating a deep work ethic will produce massive benefits. He then presents a rigorous training regimen, presented as a series of four "rules," for transforming your mind and habits to support this skill.

(Excerpt from amazon.com)

每天最重要的2小時 : 神經科學傢教你5種有效策略, 使心智有高效率表現, 聰明完成當日關鍵工作 (Two Awesome Hours)

喬許．戴維斯 (Josh Davis)
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Amazon.com商業理財／個人成長類百大暢銷書

本書結合神經科學和心理學的研究，引據十數項研究成果與大量文獻結論，提出5種有效策略，配合人體生理系統的最適運作狀態，我們每天至少都能創造出2小時的高效率心智狀態：

• 辨識每個決定點：妥善利用做完一件事或被打斷後的5分鐘，想一下後續該處理哪件事；別擔心「浪費時間」的問題，想趕快做事的急迫感，有時會讓我們先把時間誤用在不重要的事上，消耗我們的心力。

• 管理心智能量，善用好情緒與壞情緒：所有事都會消耗心智能量、引發情緒，學會在心智疲勞之前，先集中精神做最重要的事。全球流行天后碧昂絲（Beyoncé）說：「緊張，讓我表現得更好」；正面情緒是養分，但負面情緒不必然是毒素，正、負面情緒都可以用來提升工作表現與成果。

• 停止對抗分心，學會放自己一馬：專注是成功的要素，但人類的注意力系統天生善於留意分心事物，這是演化的生存必要策略之一。學會讓心思漫遊，東想西想、作作白日夢，對提升創意和思考未來都有幫助。

• 妥善利用身心關連性：掌握運動和飲食的訣竅，能讓你表現得更出色。適量、溫和的運動可以提升專注力和心智能量，吃什麼、怎麼吃、一次吃多少，也會影響你的表現。咖啡因有助於提升效率，但不是喝多就有用，少即是多，無效時小睡10分鐘更好。

• 打造對自己有益的工作環境：辦公環境中的噪音、光線和桌邊雜物，都會影響你的工作效能。斷斷續續的談話聲，是專心工作的頭號勁敵，但戴耳機聽音樂並非最佳解方。較昏暗的光線可催生創意，辦公空間大一點，則有助於多冒點險、展現領導自信。

(摘錄自博客來網路書店)