Overcomplicated

Author: Samuel Arbesman
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0143131303
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 258

Book Description
Why did the New York Stock Exchange suspend trading without warning on July 8, 2015? Why did certain Toyota vehicles accelerate uncontrollably against the will of their drivers? Why does the programming inside our airplanes occasionally surprise its creators? After a thorough analysis by the top experts, the answers still elude us. You don’t understand the software running your car or your iPhone. But here’s a secret: neither do the geniuses at Apple or the Ph.D.’s at Toyota—not perfectly, anyway. No one, not lawyers, doctors, accountants, or policy makers, fully grasps the rules governing your tax return, your retirement account, or your hospital’s medical machinery. The same technological advances that have simplified our lives have made the systems governing our lives incomprehensible, unpredictable, and overcomplicated. In Overcomplicated, complexity scientist Samuel Arbesman offers a fresh, insightful field guide to living with complex technologies that defy human comprehension. As technology grows more complex, Arbesman argues, its behavior mimics the vagaries of the natural world more than it conforms to a mathematical model. If we are to survive and thrive in this new age, we must abandon our need for governing principles and rules and accept the chaos. By embracing and observing the freak accidents and flukes that disrupt our lives, we can gain valuable clues about how our algorithms really work. What’s more, we will become better thinkers, scientists, and innovators as a result. Lucid and energizing, this book is a vital new analysis of the world heralded as "modern" for anyone who wants to live wisely.

Overcomplicated

Author: Samuel Arbesman
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1591847761
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 258

Book Description
In "Overcomplicated," complexity scientist Samuel Arbesman offers a fresh, insightful field guide to living with complex technologies that defy human comprehension. As technology grows more complex, Arbesman argues, its behavior mimics the vagaries of the natural world more than it conforms to a mathematical model. If we are to survive and thrive in this new age, we must abandon our need for governing principles and rules and accept the chaos. By embracing and observing the freak accidents and flukes that disrupt our lives, we can gain valuable clues about how our algorithms really work. What's more, we will become better thinkers, scientists, and innovators as a result.

The Half-Life of Facts

Author: Samuel Arbesman
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 159184651X
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 258

Book Description
New insights from the science of science Facts change all the time. Smoking has gone from doctor recommended to deadly. We used to think the Earth was the center of the universe and that the brontosaurus was a real dinosaur. In short, what we know about the world is constantly changing. Samuel Arbesman shows us how knowledge in most fields evolves systematically and predictably, and how this evolution unfolds in a fascinating way that can have a powerful impact on our lives. He takes us through a wide variety of fields, including those that change quickly, over the course of a few years, or over the span of centuries.

The Imperfectionists

Author: Tom Rachman
Publisher: Dial Press
ISBN: 1588369749
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 340

Book Description
From the author of The Italian Teacher, this acclaimed debut novel set in Rome follows the topsy-turvy lives of the denizens of an English language newspaper. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Janet Maslin, The New York Times • The Economist • NPR • Slate • The Christian Science Monitor • Financial Times • The Plain Dealer • Minneapolis Star Tribune • St. Louis Post-Dispatch • The Kansas City Star • The Globe and Mail • Publishers Weekly Look in the back of the book for a conversation between Tom Rachman and Malcolm Gladwell Fifty years and many changes have ensued since the paper was founded by an enigmatic millionaire, and now, amid the stained carpeting and dingy office furniture, the staff’s personal dramas seem far more important than the daily headlines. Kathleen, the imperious editor in chief, is smarting from a betrayal in her open marriage; Arthur, the lazy obituary writer, is transformed by a personal tragedy; Abby, the embattled financial officer, discovers that her job cuts and her love life are intertwined in a most unexpected way. Out in the field, a veteran Paris freelancer goes to desperate lengths for his next byline, while the new Cairo stringer is mercilessly manipulated by an outrageous war correspondent with an outsize ego. And in the shadows is the isolated young publisher who pays more attention to his prized basset hound, Schopenhauer, than to the fate of his family’s quirky newspaper. As the era of print news gives way to the Internet age and this imperfect crew stumbles toward an uncertain future, the paper’s rich history is revealed, including the surprising truth about its founder’s intentions. Spirited, moving, and highly original, The Imperfectionists will establish Tom Rachman as one of our most perceptive, assured literary talents.

Unit Testing Principles, Practices, and Patterns

Author: Vladimir Khorikov
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1638350299
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 460

Book Description
"This book is an indispensable resource." - Greg Wright, Kainos Software Ltd. Radically improve your testing practice and software quality with new testing styles, good patterns, and reliable automation. Key Features A practical and results-driven approach to unit testing Refine your existing unit tests by implementing modern best practices Learn the four pillars of a good unit test Safely automate your testing process to save time and money Spot which tests need refactoring, and which need to be deleted entirely Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications. About The Book Great testing practices maximize your project quality and delivery speed by identifying bad code early in the development process. Wrong tests will break your code, multiply bugs, and increase time and costs. You owe it to yourself—and your projects—to learn how to do excellent unit testing. Unit Testing Principles, Patterns and Practices teaches you to design and write tests that target key areas of your code including the domain model. In this clearly written guide, you learn to develop professional-quality tests and test suites and integrate testing throughout the application life cycle. As you adopt a testing mindset, you’ll be amazed at how better tests cause you to write better code. What You Will Learn Universal guidelines to assess any unit test Testing to identify and avoid anti-patterns Refactoring tests along with the production code Using integration tests to verify the whole system This Book Is Written For For readers who know the basics of unit testing. Examples are written in C# and can easily be applied to any language. About the Author Vladimir Khorikov is an author, blogger, and Microsoft MVP. He has mentored numerous teams on the ins and outs of unit testing. Table of Contents: PART 1 THE BIGGER PICTURE 1 ¦ The goal of unit testing 2 ¦ What is a unit test? 3 ¦ The anatomy of a unit test PART 2 MAKING YOUR TESTS WORK FOR YOU 4 ¦ The four pillars of a good unit test 5 ¦ Mocks and test fragility 6 ¦ Styles of unit testing 7 ¦ Refactoring toward valuable unit tests PART 3 INTEGRATION TESTING 8 ¦ Why integration testing? 9 ¦ Mocking best practices 10 ¦ Testing the database PART 4 UNIT TESTING ANTI-PATTERNS 11 ¦ Unit testing anti-patterns

Learn C# Programming by Creating Games with Unity (Beginner)

Author: Patrick Felicia
Publisher: Patrick Felicia
ISBN:
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 538

Book Description
Master C# and Game Development with Unity Are you ready to turn your passion for gaming into a career? This comprehensive guide is your ultimate resource for mastering C# and Unity. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this book offers step-by-step instructions, practical exercises, and real-world projects to help you learn C# programming through the exciting process of game development. What You’ll Learn: Getting Started with Unity: Install and navigate the Unity interface with ease. C# Programming: Master the basics and advanced concepts of C# programming, from variables and loops to arrays, classes, and inheritance. Game Development: Apply your C# skills to create engaging games like an infinite runner and a 2D shooter. Advanced C# Concepts: Dive into object-oriented programming with C# classes, inheritance, polymorphism, and more. Data Management with C#: Save and load game data using local files, JSON, XML, and databases. Procedural Content Generation with C#: Build dynamic environments and even a virtual solar system. Debugging in C#: Learn essential tips for debugging and error management in C#. Development Principles: Follow best practices like DRY, SOLID, and KISS using C# in Unity. Writing Clean Code: Write clean, reusable, and maintainable C# code. Why Choose This Book? Comprehensive Learning Path: Structured approach from basic C# concepts to advanced game development techniques. Real-World Projects: Apply your C# knowledge through practical game development projects, quizzes, and challenges. Expert Guidance: Benefit from the author's extensive experience as an instructor, providing clear explanations and valuable insights. Support and Resources: Access additional resources and support to enhance your learning. Who Will Enjoy This Book? Beginner Programmers: If you're new to programming, this book provides a solid foundation in C# through game development. Experienced Developers: Those with programming knowledge looking to expand into C# and game development will find this book invaluable. Students and Educators: Ideal for classroom settings or self-study, with structured lessons and practical exercises focused on C# and Unity. Hobbyists and Enthusiasts: If you love games and want to learn C# to create your own, this book will guide you through the process step-by-step. Buy this book now, start your journey today and bring your game ideas to life while mastering C#.

Micromastery

Author: Robert Twigger
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0525504303
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 258

Book Description
Want to be a lifelong learner? Think small. Forget spending 10,000 hours in the pursuit of perfecting just one thing. The true path to success and achievement lies in the pursuit of perfecting lots and lots of small things--for a big payoff. Combining positive psychology, neuroscience, self-help and more, this delightfully illuminating book encourages us to circumvent all the reasons we "can't" learn and grow (we're too busy, it's too complicated, we're not experts, we didn't start when we were young) -- by tackling small, satisfying skills. Wish you were a seasoned chef? Learn to make a perfect omelette. Dream of being a racecar driver? Perfect a handbrake turn. Wish you could draw? Make Zen circles your first challenge. These small, doable tasks offer a big payoff -- and motivate us to keep learning and growing, with payoffs that include a boost in optimism, confidence, memory, cognitive skills, and more. Filled with surprising insights and even a compendium of micromastery skills to try yourself, this engaging and inspiring guide reminds us of the simple joy of learning -- and opens the door to limitless, lifelong achievement, one small step at a time. Micromasteries presented in the book (with illustrations) include: Learn How to Climb a Rope, Surf Standing Up, Talk for Fifteen Minutes about Any Subject, Bake Artisan Bread, Juggle Four Balls, Learn to Read Japanese in Three Hours, and more.

Understanding Reality

Author: Nicholas Rescher
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1498585116
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 223

Book Description
The book sees to show that the present discussion so unfolds as to show that ultimately Reality’s inherent impetus to lawful order serves also to account for its existence. The ultimate explanation of its order is as something that also provides for its reason for being. Step by step, a train of thought unfolds to indicate that Reality both exists and has the nature it does for good reason, and specifically because this is somehow for the best. Such an approach goes back to the Platonism of classical antiquity. Many difficulties lie in the way of its acceptance. But is it, in the final analysis, the theory that works here takes the form of a Neo-Platonism of sorts. Or if reality has any rational explanation at all, it is one that will have to proceed along these lines, based upon rationality itself. An underlying theme that runs throughout the present elaboration of metaphysics is the dialectic of interaction between descriptive facts on the one hand and normative ideals on the other. On such a view, it is a salient factor in metaphysics that reality as such is descriptively constituted as a potentially perfect system of knowledge even though we imperfect beings cannot get a more than an imperfectly secure cognitive grip on it. Accordingly, we can never hope to surmount the contrast between: •The metaphysical ideal of a perfected system of knowledge. •The imperfect realization of actuality that we can ever hope to achieve in practice.

Resetting, Reimagining, and Renewing Your Creative Spark with ChatGPT and Pi Prompts

Author: J. Thorn
Publisher: Thorn Publishing LLC
ISBN:
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 196

Book Description
Are you trapped in a creative maze, yearning for the spark that once fueled your artistry? Do your projects seem to blur together, lacking the zest and originality they once possessed? Fear not, for “Resetting, Reimagining, and Renewing Your Creative Spark with ChatGPT and Pi Prompts,” is here to revitalize your creative energy. Acclaimed creative professional J. Thorn welcomes you to a space where age-old creative wisdom intersects with cutting-edge introspective techniques. Reinvigorate your creative soul by understanding the core Conflict, Choice, and Consequence that shapes every masterpiece. Go on a journey where human insight melds with time-tested principles to restore your creative essence. In this masterful guide, you’ll discover: · The essence of Conflict, Choice, and Consequence, and how they mold every creative endeavor. · Ways to tap into these principles to breathe life into projects that feel stagnant or uninspired. · Strategies to navigate the maze of creative decisions, ensuring every Choice leads to fulfilling Consequences. · Techniques to evolve your work using the combined wisdom of Three Story Method, crafting projects of passion, depth, and unmatched originality. · And so much more! This isn’t just a method—it’s a lifeline. A beacon for every artist, designer, writer, or creator, whether you’re sketching your first design or painting your magnum opus. It’s a treasure trove for both the budding artist seeking direction and the seasoned professional craving a fresh perspective. From the initial spark of an idea to the final stroke of brilliance, “Resetting, Reimagining, and Renewing Your Creative Spark with ChatGPT and Pi Prompts,” pledges to be the compass on your creative voyage. Reignite your passion. Rediscover your muse. Let the Three Story Method guide you. Say goodbye to creative blocks and hello to boundless inspiration—buy your copy now!

WTF? Working with UX, PM & Dev

Author: Sunni Pattiwal
Publisher: Sunni Pattiwal
ISBN:
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 397

Book Description
Unlock Seamless Collaboration Between UX, Product, and Development Teams In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, building a successful product requires more than just great ideas—it demands flawless collaboration between UX designers, product managers, and developers. Yet, aligning these diverse roles can be a challenge, often leading to communication gaps, project delays, and frustrated teams. In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn: Proven strategies to foster clear communication and alignment across UX, PM, and development teams. How to overcome common collaboration roadblocks, from conflicting priorities to technical constraints. Real-world solutions tailored to teams of all sizes, whether you’re a lean startup or a large-scale enterprise. Actionable techniques to streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and deliver user-centered products faster. Perfect for team leaders, managers, and cross-functional teams, this book irons out the awkward parts of collaboration, transforming confusion into clarity. Whether you’re struggling with design handoffs, feature prioritisation, or balancing user needs with business goals, this book provides the tools to build cohesive teams that work together effortlessly. Ready to bridge the gap between UX, product, and development? This book is your roadmap to smoother collaboration and better product outcomes.