Global catastrophes and trends : the next fifty years - václav smil

A wide-ranging, interdisciplinary look at global changes that may occur over the next fifty years—whether sudden and cataclysmic world-changing events or gradually unfolding trends. Fundamental change occurs most often in one of two ways: as a “fatal discontinuity,” a sudden catastrophic event that is potentially world changing, or as a persistent, gradual trend. Global catastrophes include volcanic eruptions, viral pandemics, wars, and large-scale terrorist attacks; trends are demographic, environmental, economic, and political shifts that unfold over time. In this provocative book, scientist Vaclav Smil takes a wide-ranging, interdisciplinary look at the catastrophes and trends the next fifty years may bring. Smil first looks at rare but cataclysmic events, both natural and human-produced, then at trends of global importance, including the transition from fossil fuels to other energy sources and growing economic and social inequality. He also considers environmental change—in some ways an amalgam of sudden discontinuities and gradual change—and assesses the often misunderstood complexities of global warming. Global Catastrophes and Trends does not come down on the side of either doom-and-gloom scenarios or techno-euphoria. Instead, Smil argues that understanding change will help us reverse negative trends and minimize the risk of catastrophe (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Martin Kemp, described by The Times as ‘the world’s leading authority on Leonardo’, relates his fifty-year relationship with the most famous artist of all time In Living with Leonardo, world-renowned Leonardo da Vinci expert Martin Kemp relates his fifty-year relationship with the work of the most famous artist of all time. Through an engaging personal narrative inter-woven with historical research, we learn of Kemp’s encounters with the vast population that surrounds Leonardo: great and lesser academics, collectors and curators, devious dealers and unctuous auctioneers, major scholars and authors, pseudo-historians and fantasists. He shares how he has grappled with swelling legions of ‘Leonardo loonies’, walked on the eggshells of vested interests in academia and museums, and fended off fusillades of non-Leonardos, sometimes more than one a week. Examining the greatest masterpieces, from the Last Supper to Salvator Mundi, through the expert’s eye, we learn first-hand of the thorny questions that surround attribution, the scientific analyses that support the experts’ interpretations, and the continuing importance of connoisseurship. Throughout, from the most scholarly interpretations to the popularity of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, we are reminded of Leonardo’s unique genius and wonder at how an artist from 500 years ago continues to make such compelling posthumous demands on all those who engage with him. Contents List Preface and Acknowledgements Introduction: Art History in Action Prologue: a Sketch of Leonardo 1. The Last Supper and the First Steps 2. The “Original” Last Supper 3. Looking at Lisa 4. The Stolen Madonna 5. The Beautiful Princess 6. Ugly Arguments 7. The Saviour 8. Science and Seeing 9. Codices and Computers 10. Exhibitions 11. Codes and Codswallop Martin Kemp is professor emeritus of the history of art at Oxford University (knihydobrovsky.cz)

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. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

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. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

His research was urgent fifty years ago. Now, it's critical.In the early 1970s, budding Kiwi scientist Dave Lowe was posted at an atmospheric monitoring station on the wind-blasted southern coast of New Zealand's North Island. On a shoestring salary he measured carbon in the atmosphere, collecting vital data towards what became one of the most important discoveries in modern science.What followed was a lifetime's career marked by hope and despair. As realisation dawned of what his measurements meant for the future of the planet, Dave travelled the world to understand more about atmospheric gases, along the way programming some of the earliest computers, designing cutting-edge equipment and conducting experiments both dangerous and mind-numbingly dull. From the sandy beaches of California to the stark winters of West Germany, the mesas of the Rocky Mountains and an Atlantic voyage across the equator, Dave has faced down climate deniers, foot-dragging bureaucracy and widespread complacency to open people's eyes to the effects of increasing fossil fuel emissions on our atmosphere.In equal parts adventure and a warning, and with the wisdom and frustration of half a century behind him, The Alarmist is the exhilarating autobiography of a pioneering Kiwi scientist who has dedicated his life to sounding the alarm on climate change. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

We have never had so much information at our fingertips and yet most of us don't know how the world really works. This book explains seven of the most fundamental realities governing our survival and prosperity. From energy and food production, through our material world and its globalization, to risks, our environment and its future, How the World Really Works offers a much-needed reality check - because before we can tackle problems effectively, we must understand the facts.In this ambitious and thought-provoking book we see, for example, that globalization isn't inevitable and that our societies have been steadily increasing their dependence on fossil fuels, making their complete and rapid elimination unlikely. Drawing on the latest science and tackling sources of misinformation head on - from Yuval Noah Harari to Noam Chomsky - ultimately Smil answers the most profound question of our age: are we irrevocably doomed or is a brighter utopia ahead? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

'There is no author whose books I look forward to more' Bill GatesThe New York Times bestselling author returns with a mind-opening exploration of how size defines life on Earth.Explaining the key processes shaping size in nature, society and technology, Smil busts myths around proportions - from bodies to paintings and the so-called golden ratio - tells us what Jonathan Swift got wrong in Gulliver's Travels - the giant Brobdingnagian's legs would buckle under their enormous weight - and dives headfirst into the most contentious issue in ergonomics: the size of aeroplane seats.It is no exaggeration to say this fascinating and wide-ranging tour de force will change the way you look at absolutely everything.‘Vaclav Smil is a phenomenon with an appetite for facts over prejudice and fashion. Essential reading for anyone who cares about the future’ Lord Norman Foster (knihydobrovsky.cz)

100 words: The New York Times bestselling author returns with a mind-opening exploration of how size defines life on Earth.Explaining the key processes shaping size in nature, society and technology, Smil busts myths around proportions - from bodies to paintings and the so-called golden ratio - tells us what Jonathan Swift got wrong in Gulliver's Travels - the giant Brobdingnagian's legs would buckle under their enormous weight - and dives headfirst into the most contentious issue in ergonomics: the size of aeroplane seats.It is no exaggeration to say this fascinating and wide-ranging tour de force will change the way you look at absolutely everything.10 words: Size, an omnipresent scalar, is the measure of all things.1 word: Size. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

In Fifty Things that Made the Modern Economy, the revolutionary, acclaimed book, radio series and podcast, bestselling economist Tim Harford introduced us to a selection of fifty radical inventions that changed the world. Now, in this new book, Harford once again brings us an array of remarkable, memorable, curious and often unexpected 'things' - inventions that teach us lessons by turns intimate and sweeping about the complex world economy we live in today. From the brick, blockchain and the bicycle to fire, the factory and fundraising, and from solar PV and the pencil to the postage stamp, this brilliant and enlightening collection resonates, fascinates and stimulates. It is a wonderful blend of insight and inspiration from one of Britain's finest non-fiction storytellers. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

In Fifty Things that Made the Modern Economy, the revolutionary, acclaimed book, radio series and podcast, bestselling economist Tim Harford introduced us to a selection of fifty radical inventions that changed the world. Now, in this new book, Harford once again brings us an array of remarkable, memorable, curious and often unexpected 'things' - inventions that teach us lessons by turns intimate and sweeping about the complex world economy we live in today. From the brick, blockchain and the bicycle to fire, the factory and fundraising, and from solar PV and the pencil to the postage stamp, this brilliant and enlightening collection resonates, fascinates and stimulates. It is a wonderful blend of insight and inspiration from one of Britain's finest non-fiction storytellers. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The follow-up to the No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller The Mister, a passionate and thrilling love story from E L James, author of the phenomenal bestselling Fifty Shades Trilogies.Alessia regards her husband through heavy-lidded eyes.You'll have to fight for him. Her mother's words from their call this morning ring through her head. And fight, she will. Using every available weapon she has.She loves him. She knows this. She wants him.And she wants him to want her.What happens once the glass slipper fits...?Maxim Trevelyan, reluctant Earl of Trevethick, has pursued the woman he loves to the wilds of Albania. Having fought for and won her, he now has to wed her, at the sharp end of a shotgun.But can a reformed rake like Maxim ever make a good husband - or will his own notorious reputation and the scandalous secrets of his aristocratic family destroy his new-found happiness?Alessia Demachi has defied and outwitted kidnappers and traffickers, and won the heart of the man she loves, but can she make this marriage work? Confronted by Maxim's lurid past, his forbidding family, and the looks and whispers of London's elite, will she ever be seen as Maxim's countess - or will she always be his former cleaner?From the majestic mountains of Albania, through the rural idyll of the English countryside, to the shady glamour of contemporary London, The Missus is a spellbinding journey of love, longing, acceptance and redemption. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Bez ropy by nebylo globalizace, plastů, běžné přepravy ani světové politické mapy, v níž by se alespoň někdo vyznal. Je to životadárná tekutina moderního světa a zdá se, že ze závislosti na ní se lidstvo ještě hezkých pár desetiletí nevymaní. Autor uznávané Energie v této aktuální knize vysvětluje vše, co s „černým zlatem“ souvisí, od jeho objevení v hlubinách Země až po politické turbulence, které dnes rozpoutává. Kniha Ropa je nabitá fascinujícími fakty a postřehy a je jedinečná jakožto kompilace spousty různých aspektů ropy a jejího příběhu. Tento Smilův vyčerpávající průvodce poskytne řadu témat k debatám pro jakoukoliv sešlost od geologie a ekonomiky až po alternativní zdroje energie, a seznámí čtenáře s vědeckým i politickým zákulisím tohoto nejkontroverznějšího zdroje světa. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Od bakterií po velryby, od atomů po asteroidy. Oceňovaný vědec českého původu Vaclav Smil tentokrát zkoumá, proč rozměry nejsou náhodné a jak ovlivňují svět. Má dvakrát větší člověk dvakrát více krve? Čím se vyznačují hezké tváře? Má každý růst své meze? Kde všude najdeme zlatý řez? A co ergonomický oříšek: velikost sedadel v letadle? Nečekané odpovědi na otázky všedního i planetárního významu vás ohromí i pobaví zároveň. Fascinující publikace od základů změní, jak se díváte na vše kolem sebe! (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Podle Einsteinovy slavné rovnice E=mc2 lze veškerou hmotu přeměnit v energii. Je všude a je vším. V tomto hodnotném zasvěcení do tématu uznávaný odborník Vaclav Smil vysvětluje její klíčovou roli ve vývoji jak naší planety, tak moderní společnosti. Počínaje jejími zdroji a využitím až po její toky a konverze Smil mapuje kritický význam energie pro: - Vnitřní procesy lidského těla - Biosféru planety země a obnovitelné zdroje - Globální oteplování a jeho prevenci V popisu mimo jiné i politicky motivovaného závodu o účinnější a ekologičtější paliva autor rovněž odhaluje dopady našich každodenních rozhodnutí na spotřebu energie. Svým komplexním přístupem a praktickými postřehy tento stravitelně podávaný průvodce ukazuje, jak je každý aspekt naší existence ovládán jedním z nejdůležitějších konceptů našeho vesmíru. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Bez ropy by nebylo globalizace, plastů, běžné přepravy ani současné světové politické mapy. Je to životadárná tekutina moderního světa a zdá se, že ze závislosti na ní se lidstvo jen tak nevymaní. Smilův vyčerpávající průvodce seznamuje čtenáře s vědeckým i politickým zákulisím tohoto nejkontroverznějšího zdroje světa a prezentuje řadu mezioborových souvislostí potřebných k pochopení komplexního globálního ropného systému. (vemzu.cz)

Od bakterií po velryby, od atomů po asteroidy. Oceňovaný vědec českého původu Vaclav Smil tentokrát zkoumá, proč rozměry nejsou náhodné a jak ovlivňují svět. Má dvakrát větší člověk dvakrát více krve? Čím se vyznačují hezké tváře? Má každý růst své meze? Kde všude najdeme zlatý řez? A co ergonomický oříšek: velikost sedadel v letadle? Nečekané odpovědi na otázky všedního i planetárního významu vás ohromí i pobaví zároveň. Fascinující publikace od základů změní, jak se díváte na vše kolem sebe! (vemzu.cz)

Kniha - 256 stran, anglicky, Pevná bez přebalu lesklá - autor Randy Leffingwell, 256 stran, anglicky, pevná bez přebalu lesklá (alza.cz)

Jakou pravdu čísla sdělují? A jak je interpretovat? Celosvětově uznávaný kanadský vědec českého původu Vaclav Smil nás ve své knize bere na faktografickou výpravu za poznáním, na níž pomocí překvapivých statistik a názorných grafů zpochybňuje naše mnohdy pohodlné myšlení a vyvrací novodobé mýty o tom, jak svět funguje. 71 tematických kapitol přináší kromě nových informací a fascinujících příkladů z energetiky, dopravy či ekologie také odpovědi na otázky typu: Proč elektrická auta zatím nejsou šetrná k životnímu prostředí? Proč je těžké předpovědět, jak zlá bude probíhající pandemie? A jak lidstvo a vynálezy moderního světa ovlivňují život na naší planetě? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Demografie, zemědělství, energie a hospodářství – to jsou čtyři „velké civilizační přechody“, jež zcela proměnily náš způsob života. Ačkoli jimi mnoho společností prošlo, na Zemi stále žijí stovky milionů lidí, kteří jsou tímto vývojem nedotčeni. Co to pro planetu znamená a kam tato nerovnováha lidstvo v blízké budoucnosti zavede? Mezinárodně uznávaný vědec Václav Smil představuje největší výzvy současnosti, které už nyní formují podobu našeho světa. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Celosvětově uznávaný kanadský vědec českého původu nás ve své knize bere na faktografickou výpravu za poznáním. 71 tematických kapitol přináší kromě nových informací a fascinujících příkladů z energetiky, dopravy či ekologie také odpovědi na otázky typu: Proč elektrická auta zatím nejsou šetrná k životnímu prostředí? Proč je těžké předpovědět, jak zlá bude probíhající pandemie? A jak lidstvo a vynálezy moderního světa ovlivňují život na naší planetě? (vemzu.cz)

eBook:,Kniha nabitá fascinujícími fakty a postřehy o „černém zlatu“, jež hýbe světovou mocenskou scénou Bez ropy by nebylo globalizace, plastů, běžné přepravy ani současné světové politické mapy. Je to životadárná tekutina moderního světa a zdá se, že ze závislosti na ní se lidstvo jen tak nevymaní. Smilův vyčerpávající průvodce seznamuje čtenáře s vědeckým i politickým zákulisím tohoto nejkontroverznějšího zdroje světa a prezentuje řadu mezioborových souvislostí potřebných k pochopení komplexního globálního ropného systému. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Audiokniha: Celosvětově uznávaný kanadský vědec českého původu nás ve své knize bere na faktografickou výpravu za poznáním. 71 tematických kapitol přináší kromě nových informací a fascinujících příkladů z energetiky, dopravy či ekologie také odpovědi na otázky typu: Proč elektrická auta zatím nejsou šetrná k životnímu prostředí? Proč je těžké předpovědět, jak zlá bude probíhající pandemie? A jak lidstvo a vynálezy moderního světa ovlivňují život na naší planetě? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Is flying dangerous? How much do the world's cows weigh? And what makes people happy? From earth's nations and inhabitants, through the fuels and foods that energize them, to the transportation and inventions of our modern world - and how all of this affects the planet itself - in Numbers Don't Lie, Professor Vaclav Smil takes us on a fact-finding adventure, using surprising statistics and illuminating graphs to challenge lazy thinking. Packed with 'Well-I-never-knew-that' information and with fascinating and unusual examples throughout, we find out how many people it took to build the Great Pyramid, that vaccination yields the best return on investment, and why electric cars aren't as great as we think (yet). There's a wonderful mix of science, history and wit, all in bite-sized chapters on a broad range of topics. Urgent and essential, Numbers Don't Lie inspires readers to interrogate what they take to be true in these significant times. Smil is on a mission to make facts matter, because after all, numbers may not lie, but which truth do they convey? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Is flying dangerous? How much do the world's cows weigh? And what makes people happy? From earth's nations and inhabitants, through the fuels and foods that energize them, to the transportation and inventions of our modern world - and how all of this affects the planet itself - in Numbers Don't Lie, Professor Vaclav Smil takes us on a fact-finding adventure, using surprising statistics and illuminating graphs to challenge lazy thinking. Packed with 'Well-I-never-knew-that' information and with fascinating and unusual examples throughout, we find out how many people it took to build the Great Pyramid, that vaccination yields the best return on investment, and why electric cars aren't as great as we think (yet). There's a wonderful mix of science, history and wit, all in bite-sized chapters on a broad range of topics. Urgent and essential, Numbers Don't Lie inspires readers to interrogate what they take to be true in these significant times. Smil is on a mission to make facts matter, because after all, numbers may not lie, but which truth do they convey? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Demografie, zemědělství, energie a hospodářství – to jsou čtyři „velké civilizační přechody“, jež zcela proměnily náš způsob života. Ačkoli jimi mnoho společností prošlo, na Zemi stále žijí stovky milionů lidí, kteří jsou tímto vývojem nedotčeni. Co to pro planetu znamená a kam tato nerovnováha lidstvo v blízké budoucnosti zavede? Mezinárodně uznávaný vědec Václav Smil představuje největší výzvy současnosti, které už nyní formují podobu našeho světa. Vaclav Smil tentokrát předkládá interdisciplinární zkoumání pěti fundamentálních přechodů, jejichž vzájemné působení vytvořilo moderní svět. Zaměřuje se na historii těchto přechodů v oblasti populace, zemědělství, energie, hospodářství a životního prostředí a zkoumá jejich původ, jakož i faktory, jež je umožnily a přispěly k jejich rozmachu. Zabývá se jejich pokrokem, postupy a rozptýlením a popisuji jejich trajektorie, interakce a důsledky. Zkoumá, jak jsme se dostali do tohoto bodu lidské evoluce a jak se z velkých přechodů zrodila dnešní každodenní realita. Realita, která se tak dalece vymyká tomu, co jsme si byli schopni včera představit, ale na jejíž výhody dosud nedosáhly miliardy lidí v méně rozvinutých společnostech, a to i přesto, že pokrok, k němuž jsme již dospěli, ohrožuje integritu biosféry. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Čísla nelžou. Ale jakou pravdu sdělují? Celosvětově uznávaný kanadský vědec českého původu nás ve své knize bere na faktografickou výpravu za poznáním. 71 tematických kapitol přináší kromě nových informací a fascinujících příkladů z energetiky, dopravy či ekologie také odpovědi na otázky typu: Proč elektrická auta zatím nejsou šetrná k životnímu prostředí? Proč je těžké předpovědět, jak zlá bude probíhající pandemie? A jak lidstvo a vynálezy moderního světa ovlivňují život na naší planetě? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Lidstvo ještě nikdy ve své historii nemělo tolik informací, přesto si jen málokdo uvědomuje, jak svět ve skutečnosti funguje. Oceňovaný vědec českého původu Vaclav Smil popisuje a objasňuje složité procesy s neuvěřitelnou lehkostí. Zabývá se sedmi základními principy moderní společnosti, počínaje energiemi přes globalizaci až po výzvy čekající v budoucnosti. Abychom mohli začít řešit problémy, musíme nejdříve pochopit základní fakta. S touto fascinující publikací to bude mnohem snazší. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Od bakterií po velryby, od atomů po asteroidy. Oceňovaný vědec českého původu Vaclav Smil tentokrát zkoumá, proč rozměry nejsou náhodné a jak ovlivňují svět. Má dvakrát větší člověk dvakrát více krve? Čím se vyznačují hezké tváře? Má každý růst své meze? Kde všude najdeme zlatý řez? A co ergonomický oříšek: velikost sedadel v letadle? Nečekané odpovědi na otázky všedního i planetárního významu vás ohromí i pobaví zároveň. Fascinující publikace od základů změní, jak se díváte na vše kolem sebe! (knihydobrovsky.cz)

World acclaimed scientist Vaclav Smil reveals everything there is to know about nature's most sought-after resourceOil is the lifeblood of the modern world. Without it, there would be no planes, no plastic, no exotic produce, and a global political landscape few would recognise. Humanity’s dependence upon oil looks set to continue for decades to come, but what is it?Fully updated and packed with fascinating facts to fuel dinner party debate, Professor Vaclav Smil's Oil: A Beginner's Guide explains all matters related to the ‘black stuff’, from its discovery in the earth right through to the controversy that surrounds it today. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Lidstvo ještě nikdy ve své historii nemělo tolik informací, přesto si jen málokdo uvědomuje, jak svět ve skutečnosti funguje. Oceňovaný vědec českého původu Vaclav Smil popisuje a objasňuje složité procesy s neuvěřitelnou lehkostí. Zabývá se sedmi základními principy moderní společnosti, počínaje energiemi přes globalizaci až po výzvy čekající v budoucnosti. Abychom mohli začít řešit problémy, musíme nejdříve pochopit základní fakta. S touto fascinující publikací to bude mnohem snazší. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The number of people dying due to drug-resistant diseases is rising every year. What medical weapons and technologies are being developed to stop this existential threat to all of us? In this brilliantly wide-ranging, one-stop guide WIRED journalist Victoria Turk outlines the reasons for this major crisis in medicine and the steps being taken to control it. She explains the reasons why antibiotics no longer have the miraculous force they once did, and why so many drugs that were once so effective are now falling short. She considers the implications for the future, not just in terms of individual health but humankind's ability to counter pandemics. She looks at the latest research into new antibiotics, preventative medicine, diagnostic techniques and resistance-resistant treatments. And she addresses the fundamental question: are new medical breakthroughs sufficient to safeguard our health in the future? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - autor James Rickards, 340 stran, anglicky, Brožovaná bez přebalu matná - autor James Rickards, 340 stran, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná The global economy has made what seems like an incredible comeback after the financial crisis of 2008. Yet this comeback is artificial. Central banks have propped up markets by keeping interest rates low and the supply of money free-flowing. They won't bail us out again next time. And there will be a next time - soon.In The Road to Ruin, bestselling author James Rickards identifies how governments around the world are secretly preparing an alternative strategy for the next big crisis: a lockdown. Instead of printing money to reliquify markets and prop up assets, governments are preparing to close banks, shut down exchanges and order powerful asset managers not to sell. They're putting provisions in place that will allow them to do so legally. What's more, the global elite has already started making their own... (alza.cz)

Kniha - autor Marianne Cronin, 400 stran, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná Life is short - no one knows that better than seventeen year-old Lenni Petterssen. On the Terminal Ward, the nurses are offering their condolences already, but Lenni still has plenty of living to do. When she meets 83-year-old Margot Macrae, a fellow patient offering new friendship and enviable artistic skills, Lenni's life begins to soar in ways she'd never imagined. As their bond deepens, a world of stories opens up: of wartime love and loss, of misunderstanding and reconciliation, of courage, kindness and joy. Stories that have led Lenni and Margot to the end of their days. (alza.cz)

Káva je světový pohár. Denně se uvaří, usrkne a vychutná více než 2,25 miliardy. Káva, věrný společník a energický zprostředkovatel každého dne, dala vzniknout celé kavárenské kultuře a vzkvétajícímu odvětví. Zatímco nápravu kofeinu je těžké ignorovat, tento milovaný horký nápoj má bohatou a rozmanitou historii, která klesá hlouběji než dno šálku.Spill the Beans vezme čtenáře na cestu Etiopií, Guatemalou, Vietnamem a mnoha dalšími zeměmi mezi tím a prozkoumá nesčetné způsoby, jakými se káva vyrábí, obchoduje a užívá si ji. Hipsterští baristé možná právě v tuto chvíli sní o příštím sezónním latté, ale příběh o tom, jak se ze skromných fazolí stala globální ikona, je zakořeněn v historii. Tato cesta java, která je základním titulem pro cestovatele v křesle, zvědavé labužníky i milovníky kaváren, ukazuje, že kromě všudypřítomné ploché bílé existuje obrovský svět kávy. Tato kniha je ‚extra žhavé‘ zboží, možná je čas ji ochutnat? (vemzu.cz)

Life is short. No-one knows that better than seventeen-year-old Lenni living on the terminal ward. But as she is about to learn, it's not only what you make of life that matters, but who you share it with. Dodging doctor's orders, she joins an art class where she bumps into fellow patient Margot, a rebel-hearted eight-three-year-old from the next ward. Their bond is instant as they realize that together they have lived an astonishing one hundred years. To celebrate their shared century, they decide to paint their life stories: of growing old and staying young, of giving joy, of receiving kindness, of losing love, of finding the person who is everything. As their extraordinary friendship deepens, it becomes vividly clear that life is not done with Lenni and Margot yet. Fiercely alive, disarmingly funny and brimming with tenderness, THE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LENNI AND MARGOT unwraps the extraordinary gift of life even when it is about to be taken away, and revels in our infinite capacity for friendship and love when we need them most. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

We are surrounded by stories of people on the move. Wild species, too, are escaping warming seas and desiccated lands in a mass exodus. Politicians and the media present this upheaval of migration patterns as unprecedented, blaming it for the spread of disease and conflict, and spreading anxiety across the world as a result.But the science and history of migration in animals, plants, and humans tell a different story. Far from being a disruptive behaviour, migration is an ancient and lifesaving response to environmental change, a biological imperative as necessary as breathing. Climate changes triggered the first human migrations out of Africa. Falling sea levels allowed our passage across the Bering Sea. Unhampered by borders, migration allowed our ancestors to people the planet, into the highest reaches of the Himalayan Mountains and the most remote islands of the Pacific, disseminating the biological, cultural and social diversity that ecosystems and societies depend upon.In other words, migration is not the crisis - it is the solution.Tracking the history of misinformation from the 18th century through to today's anti-immigration policies, The Next Great Migration makes the case for a future in which migration is not a source of fear, but of hope. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Coffee is the world's cup. Over 2.25 billion are brewed, sipped, and savored on a daily basis. A loyal companion and energetic facilitator of the everyday, coffee has sprouted an entire cafe culture and a booming industry. While the caffeine fix is hard to ignore, this beloved hot drink holds a rich and diverse history that sinks deeper than the bottom of the cup. Penned by expert journalist Lani Kingston, Spill the Beans takes the reader on a journey through Ethiopia, Guatemala, Vietnam, and many other countries in between, exploring the myriad ways in which coffee is produced, traded, and enjoyed. Hipster baristas may be dreaming up the next seasonal latte at this very moment, but the story of how the humble bean became a global icon is ingrained in history. An essential title for armchair travelers, curious foodies, and cafe-hoppers alike, Spill the Beans demonstrates that there's a vast world of coffee beyond the ubiquitous flat white. This book is an 'extra hot' commodity, maybe it is time to sample it? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

A beautiful picture-book adaptation of Thomas Harding's Costa-shortlisted biography for adults, exquisitely illustrated by Britta Teckentrup.On the outskirts of Berlin, a wooden cottage stands on the shore of a lake. Over the course of a century, this little house played host to a loving Jewish family, a renowned Nazi composer, wartime refugees and a Stasi informant; in that time, a world war came and went, and the Berlin Wall was built a stone's throw from the cottage's back door.Thomas Harding first shared this remarkable story in his Costa-shortlisted biography The House by the Lake - now he has rendered it into a deeply moving picture-book for young readers. With words that read like a haunting fairy-tale, and magnificent artwork by Britta Teckentrup, this is the astonishing true story of the house by the lake. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

A major study of how slavery and enslaved people shaped the modern worldFor the best part of four centuries, enslaved Africans were the human cogs in a vast machine which transformed the face of the Americas, enhanced the well-being of the Western world, and created cultural habits we are familiar with today. In A World Transformed, celebrated historian James Walvin presents a comprehensive history of slavery and its shaping of the world we know. It is a global story that ranges from the capitalist economy, labour and the environment to social culture and ideas of family, beauty and taste.Arguing that slavery can be fully understood only by stepping back from traditional national histories, A World Transformed collects the most recent scholarship to illustrate just how thoroughly slavery is responsible for the making of the modern world. The enforced transportation and labour of millions of Africans became a massive social and economic force, promoting the rapid development of multiple new and enormous trading systems which had profound global consequences which reverberate down to the present day. The labour and products of enslaved people changed the consumption habits of millions - in India and Asia, Europe and Africa, in colonised and Indigenous American societies. Across time, slavery shaped many of the dominant features of Western taste: items and habits or rare and costly luxuries, some of which might seem, at first glance, utterly removed from the horrific reality of slavery. A World Transformed traces the global impacts of slavery over centuries, far beyond its legal or historical limits, confirming that the world created by slave labour lives on today. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Fotografické sekvence výpravného výstavního katalogu z produkce Kunsthalle Praha a Hildebrandtova studia zachycují atmosféru výstavy a vtahují diváka přímo do jejího dění. Další perspektivy a vhledy do života a díla Gregora Hildebrandta přinášejí jak kurátorský text Christelle Havránek, tak esej Friedmanna Hahna, Hildebrandtova profesora umění z Kunsthochschule Mainz. V knize nechybí ani rozsáhlé archivní materiály z umělcova ateliéru a jeho projektů v rámci Grzegorzki Shows a hudebního labelu Grzegorzki Records, které nám umožňují nahlédnout do jeho tvůrčího procesu a živých vazeb na další umělce, přátele, studenty a milovníky umění v mezinárodním měřítku. Texty: Ivana Goossen. Friedemann Hahn, Christelle Havranek (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Funny, heartbreaking, rich and wise, this is a story with the power to cast a spell all of its own.Vaclav and Lena seem destined for each other. They first meet as children at their English class in Brooklyn. Vaclav dreams of becoming a famous magician with Lena as his lovely assistant. But then Lena disappears; it seems that life can play cruel tricks too. Vaclav says goodnight to Lena every night for seven years to keep her safe, and then discovers why she was taken from him. Is their connection strong enough to survive the truth, or is happily ever after only an illusion? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - 352 stran, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná (alza.cz)

Funny, heartbreaking, rich and wise, this is a story with the power to cast a spell all of its own.Vaclav and Lena seem destined for each other. They first meet as children at their English class in Brooklyn. Vaclav dreams of becoming a famous magician with Lena as his lovely assistant. But then Lena disappears; it seems that life can play cruel tricks too. Vaclav says goodnight to Lena every night for seven years to keep her safe, and then discovers why she was taken from him. Is their connection strong enough to survive the truth, or is happily ever after only an illusion? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - autor Jared Diamond, anglicky, Brožovaná bez přebalu matná - autor Jared Diamond, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná A study of how Europe and the Near East became the cradles of modern society, eventually giving rise to capitalism and science, the dominant forces in today's world - and why, until more recent times, Africa, Australasia and the Americas lagged behind in both technological sophistication and political and military power. 32 illus. (alza.cz)

eBook: Cílem knihy je objasnit dosud neznámá nebo nedostatečně osvětlená fakta z každodenního života příslušníků lengyelské kultury, neolitických zemědělců, kteří přišli z Balkánu, přes Moravu se rozšířili až na území dnešního Rakouska a Polska a nahradili původní rané zemědělské populace střední Evropy – kultury s lineární (LnK) a vypíchanou keramikou (StK). Od raně neolitických kultur se odlišovali zejména využíváním mědi, sopečného skla a vyšším podílem lovu. Jak byla tato populace ovlivněna používáním kovu? Proč vzrostla její potřeba lovit? Jaký byl její zdravotní stav před migrací z dnešního Maďarska na Moravu, kde zažila nebývalý rozkvět, a jaké nemoci nejvíc sužovaly obyvatele lengyelských osad? V čem se lišil jejich životní styl od předchozích kultur s lineární a vypíchanou keramikou? Na tyto otázky se snaží odpovědět mezinárodní tým odborníků pod vedením Václava Smrčky a Olivéra Gábora. EditořiVáclav SmrčkaOlivér GáborAutořiFrantišek BůzekAlžběta ČerevkováEva ČermákováDavid DickMarta DočkalováVojtěch ErbanMartina FojtováOlivér GáborCsilla GátiZdeněk HájekMartin HillIvana JarošováSylva KaupováKitti KöhlerVítězslav KuželkaMartin MihaljevičZdenka MusilováIvo NěmecCtibor PovýšilLenka PůtováŠtefan RástočnýVáclav SmrčkaJakub TrubačZdeněk TvrdýIvan ZocJarmila ZocováPřeklad českých textůStanislav CitaHelena Pecháčková (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - 384 stran, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná It is 1880: after visiting his mistress in the suburbs, Colonel Pargiter returns home to his children and his dying wife. In a series of snapshots we meet all the Pargiter siblings: twenty-year-old Eleanor, whose concern is to help the poor, her younger sisters Milly, Delia and Rose, her brothers Morris, Martin and Edward, who is at Oxford and in love with his cousin Kitty. As the years unfold, the various threads of relation, history and personal experience get woven into the tapestries of the characters' lives, forming a larger canvas that covers not only the story of a family, but that of two entire generations. The most ambitious of Woolf's novels, and the last one to be published during her lifetime, The Years is a work suffused with a haunting, melancholy sense of time and history, and a stylistic tour de force. (alza.cz)

Kniha - 174 stran, anglicky, pevná bez přebalu lesklá (alza.cz)

Dekáda interpreta: 2000 - 2009;1970 - 1979;1990 - 1999;1980 - 1989;2020 - 2029;2010 - 2019 Datum vydání: 2022-11-11 Typ: Barevná;LP deska Složení setu: 5 ks Barva podle výrobce: Barevná Barva: Červená;Modrá;Žlutá;Stříbrná;Zelená Rok vydání: 2022.0 Rychlost: 33 1/3 RPM Balení obsahuje: LP Země původu: Německo Subžánr: New Wave;Elektronický;Synth-pop Žánr: Pop Interpret / Téma: The Human League Vydavatelství: Virgin Records Země interpreta: Spojené království Varianta: The Virgin Years (5 LP) (muziker.cz)

Where did we come from? Where are we going?Homo sapiens is the most successful, the most widespread and the most influential species ever to walk the Earth. In the blink of an evolutionary eye we have spread around the globe, taken control of Earth's biological and mineral resources, transformed the environment, discovered the secrets of the universe and travelled into space. Yet just 7 million years ago, we were just another species of great ape making a quiet living in the forests of East Africa. We do not know exactly what this ancestor was like, but it was no more likely than a chimpanzee or gorilla to sail across the ocean, write a symphony, invent a steam engine or ponder the meaning of existence. How did we get from there to here? Human Origins recounts the most astonishing evolutionary tale ever told. Discover how our ancestors made the first tentative steps towards becoming human, how we lost our fur but gained language, fire and tools, how we strode out of Africa, invented farming and cities and ultimately created modern civilisation - perhaps the only one of its kind in the universe. Meet your long-lost ancestors, the other humans who once shared the planet with us, and learn where the story might end. ABOUT THE SERIESNew Scientist Instant Expert books are definitive and accessible entry points to the most important subjects in science; subjects that challenge, attract debate, invite controversy and engage the most enquiring minds. Designed for curious readers who want to know how things work and why, the Instant Expert series explores the topics that really matter and their impact on individuals, society, and the planet, translating the scientific complexities around us into language that's open to everyone, and putting new ideas and discoveries into perspective and context. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Space: the biggest geopolitical story of the coming century - new from the multi-million-copy international bestselling author of Prisoners of GeographySpy satellites orbiting the moon. Space metals worth more than most countries' GDP. People on Mars within the next ten years.This isn't science fiction. It's astropolitics.Humans are heading up and out, and we're taking our power struggles with us. Soon, what happens in space will shape human history as much the mountains, rivers and seas have on Earth. It's no coincidence that Russia, China and the USA are leading the way. The next fifty years will change the face of global politics.In this gripping book, bestselling author Tim Marshall lays bare the new geopolitical realities to show how we got here and where we're going, covering the new space race; great-power rivalry; technology; economics; war; and what it means for all of us down here on Earth. Written with all the insight and wit that have made Marshall the UK's most popular writer on geopolitics, this is the essential read on power, politics and the future of humanity. (knihydobrovsky.cz)