A book about despair, climate change, zombie films, multiple apocalypses, the everyday, city-dwelling, zombies, walking and walk-performance, imperialism, sex, zombie literature, refugees, popular culture and zombies.

Astronomer and TV presenter Chris Lintott tells the story of the Zooniverse, the platform which enables hundreds of thousands of ordinary people to contribute to scientific research. He describes the discoveries they are making, and shows how, in the world of Big Data and smart machines, humans play a unique part in adding to scientific knowledge.

What so many have feared is finally happening. The global AI system has gone haywire. Authorities are slowly realizing that the Worldwide Integrated Consciousness System (WICS) is beyond human control. WICS is certainly transforming and changing the world, but in ways nobody saw coming. Looking for answers, the American government arrives at Tall Oaks assisted living facility. Mateo, a former programmer who wrote computer code during WICS development phase, is their prime suspect. Despite the fact that Mateo has not written a line of code in over two decades, the authorities believe he is the key to figuring out what will happen next. As a crowd gathers outside, they attempt to quickly leave with Mateo but only manage to get lost deeper inside the confusing Tall Oaks facility. What follows is one last walk through Tall Oaks, where Mateo’s memory blends with the present day chaos brought on by WICS. Along the way he befriends the attending doctor, all the while accompanied by a contingent of military guards whose uniforms and behavior are wildly unexpected. It turns out that WICS is not indifferent to the humanity behind its creation. The world, and in particular American society, are about to find this out straight from WICS. Equal parts philosophical-comedy, science fiction, and unrelenting satire on American culture, Mateo’s Walk is a novel reminding us that no technological advance can ever replace the way we treat one another. Improving the way we care and look out for each other is the best hope for a future that looks increasingly bleak. Does it take an AI program and global pandemonium to remind us of this? Perfect for fans of The Sirens of Titan, A Confederacy of Dunces, and Infinite Jest.

"The Higgs boson ... is the key to understanding why mass exists and how atoms are possible. After billions of dollars and decades of effort by more than six thousand researchers at the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland--a doorway is opening into the mind-boggling world of dark matter and beyond. Caltech physicist and acclaimed writer Sean Carroll explains both the importance of the Higgs boson and the ultimately human story behind the greatest scientific achievement of our time"--Publisher

FOR DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE THE USA. Building on the solid foundation laid in Becoming a Contagious Christian (1994), Just Walk Across the Room signals the next era in personal evangelism. Pastor Bill Hybels' firm conviction is that the highest value in personal evangelism is being attuned to and cooperative with the promptings of the Holy Spirit. This means playing only the role you are intended to play---walking when the Spirit says to walk; talking when the Spirit says to talk; and falling silent when the Spirit suggests that you've already said enough.