As millions of baby boomers head toward retirement and to new ventures, the world in which we live and work is shrinking rapidly. Many more countries attempt to become an economic player and US competitor as the global economy emerges. Rapidly expanding technologies and communications are enabling more countries to become borderless within a global economic community of creative destruction—competitors on a global stage and 24 hour global clock. There is a convergence of five powerful forces— BIG data captured and retrieved by virtualization digital storage, mobile computing, expanded use of social media, cloud computing, and SaaS applications—as businesses move closer to achieving the possibilities of the new gig economy, where all five forces are mature, implemented, and truly integrated rather than precariously bolted on. These five forces offer a new set of tools for business, opening the door to a new set of rules for operations, performance, and competition, making just-in-time freelancing and free-agent contracting more attractive. These are uncommon times to have five powerful forces—all newly emerged, all evolving, all technology-centric—already impacting businesses. It is an opportunity for IT to deliver extraordinary value via modest investments on top of a strong legacy technology footprint. These tectonic changes advance at a time when our worldwide talent pool is shrinking, increased migration from rural to larger cities, and global cohorts entering their senior years adding to the financial burden for elderly care globally. To survive this chaos, work is continuously being redefined, business models can change on the fly, and a new form of business structure, leadership, management, and workforce emerges in the new gig economy. Millions of retiring baby boomers getting off the corporate merry-go-round will play a crucial role as freelancers and free agents in bridging the gaps in skills, talent, business wisdom, and sustainability

A delightful cast of characters take up residence in this fabulously funny read perfect for fans of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Jo Docherty and Hattie Contaldo have a vision: a holiday retreat in the heart of England’s Lake District exclusively for guests of a “certain age” wishing to stimulate both mind and body with new creative experiences. With a pitch like that, the newly renovated Best Boomerville Hotel attracts plenty of eccentric clientele. There’s fun-loving Sir Henry Mulberry and his brother, Hugo; Lucinda Brown, an impoverished artist with more ego than talent; Andy Mack, a charming Porsche-driving James Bond lookalike, and Kate Simmons, a woman who made her fortune from an internet dating agency but still hasn’t found “the one” herself. With such an array of colorful individuals there’s bound to be laughs aplenty. But there’ll be plenty of fireworks too, as the residents of Boomerville learn that friendships and romance can tumble out of control when you’re this far over the hill.

Revised and expanded, with a new afterword by the author, this is the definitive biography of Duane Allman, one of the most revered guitarists of his generation. Skydog reveals the complete story of the legendary guitarist: his childhood and musical awakening; his struggling first bands; his hard-won mastery of the slide guitar; his emergence as a successful session musician; his creation of the Allman Brothers Band; his tragic death at age 24; and his thriving musical legacy.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER An explosive exposé that lays out the story behind the Steele Dossier, including Russia’s decades-in-the-making political game to upend American democracy and the Trump administration’s ties to Moscow. “Harding…presents a powerful case for Russian interference, and Trump campaign collusion, by collecting years of reporting on Trump’s connections to Russia and putting it all together in a coherent narrative.” —The Nation December 2016. Luke Harding, the Guardian reporter and former Moscow bureau chief, quietly meets former MI6 officer Christopher Steele in a London pub to discuss President-elect Donald Trump’s Russia connections. A month later, Steele’s now-famous dossier sparks what may be the biggest scandal of the modern era. The names of the Americans involved are well-known—Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, Jared Kushner, George Papadopoulos, Carter Page—but here Harding also shines a light on powerful Russian figures like Aras Agalarov, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and Sergey Kislyak, whose motivations and instructions may have been coming from the highest echelons of the Kremlin. Drawing on new material and his expert understanding of Moscow and its players, Harding takes the reader through every bizarre and disquieting detail of the “Trump-Russia” story—an event so huge it involves international espionage, off-shore banks, sketchy real estate deals, the Miss Universe pageant, mobsters, money laundering, poisoned dissidents, computer hacking, and the most shocking election in American history.

Inspired by the incredible true story of how the people of Denmark saved their Jewish neighbours during World War II

***The sparkling Christmas novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author Heidi Swain!*** Will love bloom this winter? Freya Fuller is living her dream, working as a live-in gardener on a beautiful Suffolk estate. But when the owner dies, Freya finds herself forced out of her job and her home with nowhere to go. However, with luck on her side, she’s soon moving to Nightingale Square and helping to create a beautiful winter garden that will be open to the public in time for Christmas. There’s a warm welcome from all in Nightingale Square, except from local artist Finn. No matter how hard the pair try, they just can’t get along, and working together to bring the winter garden to life quickly becomes a struggle for them both. Will Freya and Finn be able to put their differences aside in time for Christmas? Or will the arrival of a face from Freya’s past send them all spiralling? The Winter Garden is the perfect read this Christmas, promising snowfall, warm fires and breath-taking seasonal romance. Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Cathy Bramley and Sarah Morgan. Praise for HEIDI SWAIN: 'The queen of feel-good' Woman & Home 'Full of Heidi’s trademark gentle charm. Lock the door, pour some mulled wine and settle into this wonderful Christmas treat!' Milly Johnson 'More Christmassy than a week in Lapland - we loved it!' heat 'Sprinkled with Christmas sparkle' Trisha Ashley 'Give yourself a Christmas treat and curl up with this magical book!' Sue Moorcroft, author of The Little Village Christmas 'A real Christmas cracker of a read!' Penny Parkes, author of Practice Makes Perfect 'Cosy, Christmassy and deeply satisfying! Another wonderful read!' Mandy Baggot, author of One Christmas Kiss in Notting Hill

Violet has a secret that could change the lives of everyone she knows and loves, especially the regulars at the run-down café bar where she works. After losing her parents at a young age, they are the closest thing she has to a family and she feels responsible for them. Kai is a jaded music producer who has just moved outside of town. Seeking solitude from the stress of his job, he’s looking for seclusion. The only problem is he can’t seem to escape the band members and songwriters who keep showing up at his house. When Kai wanders into the bar and Violet’s life, he accidently discovers her closely guarded secret. Can Kai help her rediscover her self-confidence or should some secrets remain undiscovered?