Race for Tomorrow

TO understand the unfolding 21st century, you need to understand the climate crisis and the changes it has sent cascading through the modern world, says author-journalist Simon Mundy. His journey into this exploration lasted two years, through 26 countries on six continents, taking him to fast-shrinking glaciers, disappearing islands, tribals fighting to save rainforests. On the other hand were those struggling to respond to these, through science and entrepreneurship. All of these, he says, are embroiled in a race that will set the course of civilisation. This book is their stories — of disaster, adaptation, promise, innovation.

‘The Contrarian’, a biography of venture capitalist-entrepreneur Peter Thiel, is as much a critique of the Silicon Valley’s pursuit of power. Journalist Max Chafkin traces his life — his upbringing as the child of immigrant parents, his years at Stanford as a burgeoning conservative thought leader, his founding of PayPal and Palantir, early investment in Facebook and SpaceX. The book seeks to export the values of the controversial and influential man to the corridors of power in Silicon Valley and beyond — not to forget, he has strenuously backed far-right political candidates, notably Donald Trump.

HOW did life originate? What is its purpose? Is God for real? What are out-of-body experiences? What really is death? We all deal with these and similar other questions at some point of time. This book, ‘Gift of Life’, is a result of former IPS officer P Lal’s quest for answers. The book is divided into two parts. The first deals with concepts of life, death, aliens, sleep, consciousness, et al. The second part is action-oriented and guides readers in the pursuit of happiness, health and scientific temper. It includes suggestions on how to truly achieve these — healing the body and the mind simultaneously.