Operation Paperclip

Author: Annie Jacobsen
Publisher: Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316221058
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 626

Book Description
The “remarkable” story of America's secret post-WWII science programs (The Boston Globe), from the New York Times bestselling author of Area 51. In the chaos following World War II, the U.S. government faced many difficult decisions, including what to do with the Third Reich's scientific minds. These were the brains behind the Nazis' once-indomitable war machine. So began Operation Paperclip, a decades-long, covert project to bring Hitler's scientists and their families to the United States. Many of these men were accused of war crimes, and others had stood trial at Nuremberg; one was convicted of mass murder and slavery. They were also directly responsible for major advances in rocketry, medical treatments, and the U.S. space program. Was Operation Paperclip a moral outrage, or did it help America win the Cold War? Drawing on exclusive interviews with dozens of Paperclip family members, colleagues, and interrogators, and with access to German archival documents (including previously unseen papers made available by direct descendants of the Third Reich's ranking members), files obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, and dossiers discovered in government archives and at Harvard University, Annie Jacobsen follows more than a dozen German scientists through their postwar lives and into a startling, complex, nefarious, and jealously guarded government secret of the twentieth century. In this definitive, controversial look at one of America's most strategic, and disturbing, government programs, Jacobsen shows just how dark government can get in the name of national security. "Harrowing...How Dr. Strangelove came to America and thrived, told in graphic detail." —Kirkus Reviews

The Perfection of the Paper Clip

Author: James Ward
Publisher: Atria Books
ISBN: 1476799873
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 304

Book Description
Change the way you look at office supplies forever with this wonderfully enlightening and quirky exploration of the fascinating backstories of everyday objects, such as the humble and perfectly designed paper clip and the utilitarian, irreplaceable pencil. How many of humanity’s brightest ideas started out on a scrap of paper or in the margins of a notebook? In a delightfully witty and fresh voice, James Ward—cofounder of the Boring Conference and collector of the arcane—explores the secret histories of deskbound supplies, from pencils to fluorescent ink, and the gleaming reams of white paper we all take for granted, encouraging a deeper appreciation and fascination for the things that surround us each day. In the spirit of The Evolution of Useful Things and A History of the World in 100 Objects, Ward transforms the mundane into remarkable stories of invention, discovery, and even awe. The Perfection of the Paper Clip is “a hugely entertaining experience for the reader…this engaging book is an absolute must” (Booklist).

The One-Week Job Project

Author: Sean Aiken
Publisher: Penguin Canada
ISBN: 0143176730
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 315

Book Description
When Sean Aiken graduated from college, he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life—so he decided to try everything. Thus began the one-week job project, in which Sean would work a different job each week for a year. Sean's remarkable journey took him across North America working as a bungee jump operator, tattoo artist, aquarium guide, advertising executive, brewmaster, and cancer fundraiser. In each new job, he learned not only about himself but also about the people around him, finding out what drives people to choose a certain career, what makes them successful, and, more importantly, what makes them happy. Over the course of his year on the road, Sean learned more about work, friendship, love, and life than he ever imagined. This honest, hilarious, inspiring account is a must-read for anyone who’s ever asked themselves, “What should I do with my life?”

Seveneves

Author: Neal Stephenson
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0062190415
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 419

Book Description
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anathem, Reamde, and Cryptonomicon comes an exciting and thought-provoking science fiction epic—a grand story of annihilation and survival spanning five thousand years. What would happen if the world were ending? A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere, in outer space. But the complexities and unpredictability of human nature coupled with unforeseen challenges and dangers threaten the intrepid pioneers, until only a handful of survivors remain . . . Five thousand years later, their progeny—seven distinct races now three billion strong—embark on yet another audacious journey into the unknown . . . to an alien world utterly transformed by cataclysm and time: Earth. A writer of dazzling genius and imaginative vision, Neal Stephenson combines science, philosophy, technology, psychology, and literature in a magnificent work of speculative fiction that offers a portrait of a future that is both extraordinary and eerily recognizable. As he did in Anathem, Cryptonomicon, the Baroque Cycle, and Reamde, Stephenson explores some of our biggest ideas and perplexing challenges in a breathtaking saga that is daring, engrossing, and altogether brilliant.

Linked

Author: Gordon Korman
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
ISBN: 1338629123
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 216

Book Description
An unforgettable novel from the New York Times bestseller Gordon Korman Link, Michael, and Dana live in a quiet town. But it's woken up very quickly when someone sneaks into school and vandalizes it with a swastika. Nobody can believe it. How could such a symbol of hate end up in the middle of their school? Who would do such a thing? Because Michael was the first person to see it, he's the first suspect. Because Link is one of the most popular guys in school, everyone's looking to him to figure it out. And because Dana's the only Jewish girl in the whole town, everyone's treating her more like an outsider than ever. The mystery deepens as more swastikas begin to appear. Some students decide to fight back and start a project to bring people together instead of dividing them further. The closer Link, Michael, and Dana get to the truth, the more there is to face-not just the crimes of the present, but the crimes of the past. With Linked, Gordon Korman, the author of the acclaimed novel Restart, poses a mystery for all readers where the who did it? isn't nearly as important as the why?

The Evolution of Useful Things

Author: Henry Petroski
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0307773051
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 306

Book Description
How did the table fork acquire a fourth tine? What advantage does the Phillips-head screw have over its single-grooved predecessor? Why does the paper clip look the way it does? What makes Scotch tape Scotch? In this delightful book Henry, Petroski takes a microscopic look at artifacts that most of us count on but rarely contemplate, including such icons of the everyday as pins, Post-its, and fast-food "clamshell" containers. At the same time, he offers a convincing new theory of technological innovation as a response to the perceived failures of existing products—suggesting that irritation, and not necessity, is the mother of invention.

A Long Road on a Short Day

Author: Gary D. Schmidt
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0358378575
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 69

Book Description
A tender story of a father-son adventure with themes of community and kindness, in short chapters with vivid full-color illustrations, by bestseller and Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt and acclaimed artist Eugene Yelchin. In a story of perseverance and determination told with warmth and sparkling with humor, a short winter day finds Samuel and Papa walking a long road on Samuel's first trading trip. Meeting strangers, practicing good manners, and proud to be in Papa's company, Samuel watches and learns as Papa trades up from almost nothing to the milk cow Mama is yearning for. Simple text combines with vivid illustrations for a satisfying tale that will resonate with readers who enjoy an adventure with dad.

The Big Book of Conflict Resolution Games: Quick, Effective Activities to Improve Communication, Trust and Collaboration

Author: Mary Scannell
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
ISBN: 0071743669
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 240

Book Description
Make workplace conflict resolution a game that EVERYBODY wins! Recent studies show that typical managers devote more than a quarter of their time to resolving coworker disputes. The Big Book of Conflict-Resolution Games offers a wealth of activities and exercises for groups of any size that let you manage your business (instead of managing personalities). Part of the acclaimed, bestselling Big Books series, this guide offers step-by-step directions and customizable tools that empower you to heal rifts arising from ineffective communication, cultural/personality clashes, and other specific problem areas—before they affect your organization's bottom line. Let The Big Book of Conflict-Resolution Games help you to: Build trust Foster morale Improve processes Overcome diversity issues And more Dozens of physical and verbal activities help create a safe environment for teams to explore several common forms of conflict—and their resolution. Inexpensive, easy-to-implement, and proved effective at Fortune 500 corporations and mom-and-pop businesses alike, the exercises in The Big Book of Conflict-Resolution Games delivers everything you need to make your workplace more efficient, effective, and engaged.

One Red Paperclip

Author: Kyle MacDonald
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
ISBN: 1632990520
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 316

Book Description
Meet Kyle MacDonald. He has one red paperclip and one big dream. And he can write. Only problem is he’s between jobs, and his girlfriend is supporting him. Now is the time for Kyle MacDonald to get creative. And that is where this amazing story begins. Kyle takes his paperclip and puts an ad on Craigslist. In just fourteen trades, Kyle MacDonald turned that paperclip into a fish pen, then a doorknob, and then a camping stove. Next, he trades the camping stove for a generator. Soon, Corbin Bernsen, Alice Cooper, and a small town in Canada are involved, and before long Kyle MacDonald turns his paperclip into a house! One Red Paperclip is an inspiring story about a man with the courage and moxie to think outside the box. It is the most unlikely of stories and an example of how we can create and do amazing things with the right amount of know-how and determination. Let Kyle MacDonald inspire you to find your own one red paperclip. You just never know where it could lead . . .

The Legacy He Left Me

Author: Lovern J Gordon
Publisher: Paperclip Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 9781734620733
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 180

Book Description
Domestic Violence Awareness Memoir. Lovern grew up in Trinidad, watching father brutally abuse her mother. Migrating to States, she fell into abusive relationship of her own for 2yrs. After escaping, she later created a foundation to help victims, despite legacy of abuse left by her father. The clinical term was brought to life for Lovern Gordon as she grew up on the island of Trinidad in the 1980s. Her mother, affectionately dubbed Mummy, suffered mental and physical abuse at the hands of her emotionally detached father, Lloydie. Lovern, her younger siblings, and Mummy were able to migrate to the United States in the late 1990s.. Even thought she vowed she would never become a victim, based on what she witnessed as a child, a sinister romantic partner would repeat the trauma of Lovern's past in her own adult relationship. Rising from the ashes of these two severe domestic violence situations, Lovern went on to establish her own awareness foundation in 2011. Through her advocacy work at Love Life Now, she educates the masses around the issue of abuse, as well as how to become part of the solution and provides resources to victims and survivors. The organization helps victims thrive after leaving toxic situations, just like Lovern now thrives everyday thanks to her strength, positivity, and perseverance, despite the legacy of abuse left by her father.