Monday, January 7, 2019

規模的規律和祕密:老鼠、小鳥、雞、大象,和我們居住的城市,隱藏規模縮放的規律, 掌握其中驚奇的祕密,也同時掌握企業和地球的未來 (Scale)

傑弗里‧魏斯特 (Geoffrey West)
online access from EBSCOhost Ebooks
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1.比擬《槍炮、病菌與鋼鐵》的科普大作。試圖提供一切事物一個生物性理論。

2.以打破傳統學科界線的方法,解決長期的全球永續問題。本書以複雜科學立論,這是一門新興學科,橫跨數學、物理學、動力學、統計、電腦科學、生物學、生態學領域,企圖以此解釋生命問題:包括生命起源、生物演化,以及經濟演化等等。

3.一本充滿令人興奮觀念的大書。本書極具原創性與重要性,內含看似彼此無關的主題的驚人洞見,例如老化與死亡、睡眠、代謝、城市、能源使用、創造力、公司,甚至人類生存的永續問題。如果你對世界的真正運作方式感到好奇,絕對不要錯過這本書。

4.對於現代社會與經濟、新創公司、大型企業與城市發展的基本科學法則,提出非常強有力的全新見解。企業執行長、技術專家、市長、都市領導人與任何想理解形塑我們複雜組織的世界背後的簡單法則,一定要讀這本書。

規模比例大小,很有事!
宇宙世界運作的祕密全都和規模有關,
它背後神奇的縮放法則顯示,規模主宰了一切生命的存在與消亡,
從細胞到城市,從企業到環境生態系統,從千分之一秒到一千年,
本書帶你在生命的複雜中尋找簡單與一致。
  
•當城市與公司的規模加倍時,會發生什麼事?
•如果一棟建築物、一架飛機、一個經濟體或一隻動物的尺寸減半呢?
•如果某城市的人口變成兩倍,道路會不會也大約變成兩倍、犯罪率也變兩倍、專利也變兩倍?
•如果某公司的銷售加倍,獲利會不會也跟著加倍?
•如果某隻動物的體重減半,需要的食物是不是也只要一半? ......

(摘錄自博客來網路書店)


Monday, December 31, 2018

Brief Answers to the Big Questions

by Stephen Hawking
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The world-famous cosmologist and author of A Brief History of Time leaves us with his final thoughts on the biggest questions facing humankind.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE GUARDIAN AND WIRED

Stephen Hawking was the most renowned scientist since Einstein, known both for his groundbreaking work in physics and cosmology and for his mischievous sense of humor. He educated millions of readers about the origins of the universe and the nature of black holes, and inspired millions more by defying a terrifying early prognosis of ALS, which originally gave him only two years to live. In later life he could communicate only by using a few facial muscles, but he continued to advance his field and serve as a revered voice on social and humanitarian issues.

Hawking not only unraveled some of the universe’s greatest mysteries but also believed science plays a critical role in fixing problems here on Earth. Now, as we face immense challenges on our planet—including climate change, the threat of nuclear war, and the development of artificial intelligence—he turns his attention to the most urgent issues facing us.

Will humanity survive? Should we colonize space? Does God exist? ​​These are just a few of the questions Hawking addresses in this wide-ranging, passionately argued final book from one of the greatest minds in history.

(Excerpt from amazon.com)

巨科技 : 解碼未來三十年的科技社會大趨勢 = Megatech : Technology in 2050

富蘭克林 (Daniel Franklin)
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巨科技(MegaTech)代表巨大的科技潮流,
將以雷霆萬鈞之勢,為社會帶來巨大衝擊。

《經濟學人》雜誌推出的《巨科技》這本書, 集結了二十位第一流的專家,就各自專長的領域, 對未來三十年的科技走向與社會變遷,做出大膽的預言。 從未來科技的物理學基石、摩爾定律的極限、生物科技的應許……

這一些巨科技發展的基礎條件出發, 擴展到巨科技在各領域的發展趨向,包括工業新材料、農業新型態、 醫療新科技、潔淨能源、尖端軍力、人機一體等等, 最後則探討了人工智慧、機器人、大數據興起後, 所引發的倫理道德問題與社會衝擊。 每一篇專論都充滿洞察力和啟發性。

(摘錄自博客來網路書店)


Monday, December 24, 2018

The Politics of English in Hong Kong: Attitudes, Identity, and Use

Jette G. Hansen Edwards
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The focus of this book is on the impact of politics on language and identity in Hong Kong. The book is the first study to track real time language attitude changes against a divisive political landscape. It is also the most comprehensive study of language attitudes in Hong Kong to date, taking place over four years with over 1,600 participants. Through both survey and interview data, a multifaceted portrait of language change in progress is presented, providing a more nuanced and complex view of language and identity than has previously been presented.

The book examines the status of Hong Kong English in the light of attitudes towards Cantonese, English, and Putonghua, providing a deeper analysis of the linguistic complexity of Hong Kong; it can be argued that one cannot understand attitudes towards Hong Kong English without fully understanding the status and use of English in Hong Kong today. The book also presents a complex examination of language attitudes in Hong Kong by focusing not only on the what of language attitudes, but also the question of for whom, through an analysis of language attitudes by gender, age, identity, and speaking HKE.

(Excerpt from amazon.com)

生活在廢墟 : 你所不知道的考古學家與他們的一百種生活 (Lives in Ruins)

瑪莉蓮.強森 (Marilyn Johnson)
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亞馬遜網路書店100大好書

過本書通俗又不失專業的記述,我們可以了解考古學的樂趣與使命,考古學家如何在廢墟中解開人類早年的生活與智慧。下一次看到考古隊在田野發掘時,不要以為他們是在挖寶,其實是在解讀深埋地洞的史書!

(摘錄自博客來網路書店)

Monday, December 17, 2018

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

by Jordan B. Peterson
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#1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

What does everyone in the modern world need to know? Renowned psychologist Jordan B. Peterson's answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research.

Humorous, surprising and informative, Dr. Peterson tells us why skateboarding boys and girls must be left alone, what terrible fate awaits those who criticize too easily, and why you should always pet a cat when you meet one on the street.

What does the nervous system of the lowly lobster have to tell us about standing up straight (with our shoulders back) and about success in life? Why did ancient Egyptians worship the capacity to pay careful attention as the highest of gods? What dreadful paths do people tread when they become resentful, arrogant and vengeful? Dr. Peterson journeys broadly, discussing discipline, freedom, adventure and responsibility, distilling the world's wisdom into 12 practical and profound rules for life. 12 Rules for Life shatters the modern commonplaces of science, faith and human nature, while transforming and ennobling the mind and spirit of its readers.

(Excerpt from amazon.com)