Science & Technology Audiobooks

Code-Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI

What does it mean to be human in a world that is rapidly changing thanks to the development of artificial intelligence, of automated decision-making that both draws on and influences our behaviour? A British poet, an UberEats courier in Pittsburgh, an Indian doctor, and a Chinese activist in exile apparently have nothing in common. Yet their lives are linked by their unexpected encounters with artificial intelligence. In the human stories she tells in Code-Dependent, Murgia shows how automated systems are reshaping our lives all over the world, from technology that marks children as future criminals to an app that is helping to give diagnoses to a remote tribal community. AI has already infiltrated our day-to-day lives, through language-generating chatbots like ChatGPT and social media. But it's also affecting us in more insidious ways. It touches everything from our interpersonal relationships to our kids' education, work, finances, public services, and even our human rights. By highlighting the voices of ordinary people in places far removed from the cosy enclave of Silicon Valley, Code-Dependent explores the impact of a set of powerful, flawed, and often exploitative technologies on individuals, communities, and our wider society. Murgia exposes how AI can strip away our collective and individual sense of agency, and shatter our illusion of free will. The ways in which algorithms and their effects are governed over the coming years will profoundly impact us all. Yet we can't agree on a common path forward. We cannot decide what preferences and morals we want to encode in these entities - or what controls we may want to impose on them. And thus, we are collectively relinquishing our moral authority to machines. Murgia not only sheds light on this chilling phenomenon, but also charts a path of resistance. AI is already changing what it means to be human, in ways large and small, and Murgia reveals what could happen if we fail to reclaim our humanity.

Madhumita Murgia (Author), Madhumita Murgia, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Our Accidental Universe: Stories of Discovery from Asteroids to Aliens

Brought to you by Penguin. The BBC presenter of 'Sky at Night', and Gresham Professor of Astronomy, Chris Lintott, takes us on an astonishing tour of bizarre accidents, big characters, and human error to tell the story of some of the most important astronomical events of the past hundred years. - Our first views of the earliest galaxies were brought to us by the Hubble Space Telescope when it was pointed at absolutely nothing. - The ice-covered Enceladus, one of Saturn's nearly one hundred moons, was revealed as a possible habitat for life after a by-chance fly by of NASA's Cassini probe on a mission elsewhere. - Pulsars, the spectacular remnants of long-dead massive stars, were discovered as 'scruff' in the data for measurements of the twinkling of possible radio stars. As new telescopes are built on mountaintops and in deserts around the world, aiming to transform our view of the universe once more, Chris Lintott shows us that keeping an open mind will benefit us all - whatever might still be out there for us to find. Praise for Chris Lintott 'Superbly written insights.' - Professor Brian Cox 'Chris Lintott is a modest genius. He has quietly revolutionized modern astronomy.' Brian May 'Lintott deftly interweaves personal experience and more philosophical ruminations.' Michael West, Nature ©2024 Chris Lintott (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Chris Lintott (Author), Chris Lintott, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Learning to Live Again: An inspiring story of survival and finding happiness

Louise Thompson (Author), Louise Thompson, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Science Museum Stephen Hawking Genius at Work: Explore his life, mind and science through the ob

An intimate exploratory tour of Stephen Hawking's office, providing a unique insight into the mind of a genius, the things that inspired him and explanations of his seminal theories. A behind-the scenes tour of the inner sanctum of one of the world's most prominent scientific thinkers. In 2021, the Science Museum made a once-in-a-lifetime acquisition of the contents of Stephen Hawking's office. This audiobook delves into that remarkable collection, using the seminal papers, items and curiosities in his office to explain his theories and reveal more about one of the greatest minds in modern science. It's an unprecedented glimpse into the life of the best-known scientist of modern times. Roger Highfield OBE is the Science Director of the Science Museum Group. Roger has visiting professorships at the Department of Chemistry, UCL, and at the Dunn School, University of Oxford, is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and a member of the Medical Research Council and Longitude Committee. He has written or co-authored ten popular science books, including two bestsellers. The Science Museum is part of the Science Museum Group, the world’s leading group of science museums that share a world-class collection providing an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical achievements from across the globe. © 2024 Roger Highfield © 2024 DK Audio

Roger Highfield (Author), Keith Wickham, Roger Highfield (Narrator)

Audiobook

Praxis Tacticum: The Art, Science and Practice of Military Tactics

Pundits have long predicted the end of conventional warfare but for the foreseeable future, it is here to stay. Counterinsurgency, guerrilla warfare, terrorism, peace enforcement, policing. All these forms, like conventional warfare, are as old as mankind. Modern militaries claim to be professional bodies, responsible for the education, control, and discipline of their members. But at least one aspect of this claim is poorly executed: tactics are not taught to junior leaders, which is why this guide is essential for all junior leaders, officers, and NCOs alike. There is a military adage that there is no teacher like the enemy. True; but the wise commander prepares to meet that enemy and become their teacher instead. This is your essential study guide.

Colonel Charles S. Oliviero (Author), Chris Monteiro (Narrator)

Audiobook

On Borrowed Time: North America's Next Big Quake

Finalist, Balsillie Prize for Public Policy and Victoria Butler Book Prize A Globe and Mail Top 100 Book The Big One and what we can do to get ready for it. Mention the word earthquake and most people think of California. But while the Golden State shakes on a regular basis, Washington State, Oregon, and British Columbia are located in a zone that can produce the world's biggest earthquakes and tsunamis. In the eastern part of the continent, small cities and large, from Ottawa to Montréal to New York City, sit in active earthquake zones. In fact, more than 100-million North Americans live in active seismic zones, many of whom do not realize the risk to their community.

Gregor Craigie (Author), Gregor Craigie (Narrator)

Audiobook

Living Well With Multiple Sclerosis

Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis is one part primer, one part handbook, one part pocket translator, and 100% an essential field guide for navigating the challenges of living with chronic illness. This curated collection from nearly two decades of reflections by award-winning writer, Trevis L Gleason, compiled and edited with his 'MS Sister,' Emma Rogan, guides listeners through ever-changing personal, professional, and medical minefields associated with life-altering chronic conditions. Refreshingly honest, but written with hope, compassion, and Gleason's signature wry wit, it reinforces Gleason's MS ethos that 'Living life with a chronic illness well is all about the living part.'

Trevis Gleason, Trevis L. Gleason (Author), Trevis Gleason (Narrator)

Audiobook

Simply AI: Facts Made Fast

Understanding AI has never been easier. With easy-to-understand text, this new edition of Simply Artificial Intelligence is the perfect introduction to the latest developments in AI. Covering a broad range of fields within AI - from computing and mathematics to politics and philosophy - entries demystify what artificial intelligence is and how it works, how it has dramatically changed the way we live, and how it might evolve in the future. Explaining each individual aspect of AI more clearly than ever before, this audiobook outlines the key building-blocks and technological milestones in its history, profiles its most important practical applications - both current and predicted - and explores the numerous ethical debates around AI, and its increasing influence on culture and society. Whether you are studying science or AI-related subjects at school or college, or simply want a jargon-free overview of this increasingly important subject, this essential guide is packed with everything you need to understand the basics quickly and easily. © 2024 DK © 2024 DK Audio

Tbd (Author), Elliot Fitzpatrick (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Nocebo Effect: When Words Make You Sick

12.7 billion doses of the COVID vaccine have been administered around the world, with nearly 613 million doses in the United States alone. Unfortunately, the vaccine has not been universally accepted, often as a result of the side-effects of the vaccine that were widely discussed in news outlets and amplified by social media, relaying anecdotes of people feeling sick after getting jabbed. But lost in this discussion of side effects and ignored by the CDC, vaccine experts, and the media is the inconvenient fact that a significant portion of these side effects were not actually caused by the vaccine. Instead, they were the result of our negative expectations, the so-called nocebo effect. “The nocebo effect” stems from the Latin word nocere, which translates roughly as “to harm” and can be best summarized as the occurrence of a harmful event that stems from consciously or subconsciously anticipating or expecting it. While there has never before been such a massive demonstration of the nocebo effect as with the COVID vaccine, there are myriad other examples throughout history, and we are just beginning to discover the power behind this phenomenon. In turns enlightening and informative, The Nocebo Effect is the first book to investigate this fascinating phenomenon and offers a wide variety of topics and angles by the foremost researchers in this emerging field.

Charlotte Blease, Michael H. Bernstein (Author), Jeff Zinn, TBD (Narrator)

Audiobook

Understanding Autistic Relationships Across the Lifespan: Family, Friends, Lovers and Others

Understanding Autistic Relationship Across the Lifespan is an overview of autistic relationships from the early years to old age. The book combines the latest research findings with first-hand accounts to offer insight into the relationships of autistic people and how they differ to those of non-autistic people. Felicity Sedgewick and Sarah Douglas delve into life's stages and their challenges, revealing how navigating relationships can lead to misunderstandings, rejection, and trauma-but also to genuine connection, support, and joy. Illustrated throughout with extracts from interviews and extended narratives, it explores key topics, including relationships in the early years, childhood friendships, teenage friendships and romance, adult romantic and sexual relationships, LGBTQ+ relationships, finding community, family relationships, and issues in the later stages of life. The authors explore a wide range of emotions and life situations, examining the social world of autistic people and the strategies they use to navigate it. This book offers practical recommendations for both autistic and non-autistic people on how to have the healthiest and most satisfying relationships possible. It is essential listening for all those working with autistic people and studying autism, as well as autistic individuals and those close to them.

Felicity Sedgewick, Sarah Douglas (Author), Sanya Simmons (Narrator)

Audiobook

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Study Guide With 500 Practice Test Questions: Foundational (CLF-C02

In the newly revised second edition of AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Study Guide: Foundational (CLF-C02) Exam, a team of veteran IT professionals and educators delivers an up-to-date and easy-to-follow introduction to Amazon's industry-leading cloud technology and the introductory certification exam that demonstrates your understanding of it. Used by thousands of companies across the globe, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is an integral part of business IT operations at firms in virtually every industry and sector. In this book, you'll prepare to pass the recently updated AWS Certification Exam and prove your knowledge of critical AWS cloud technologies and capabilities. You'll find complete and thorough coverage of every topic included on the exam, from infrastructure to architecture and cybersecurity. You'll also discover comprehensive discussions of the AWS Cloud value proposition, as well as billing, account management, and pricing models. The AWS Certified AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Study Guide is an essential resource for any IT professional that works directly with Amazon Web Services, as well as students in IT fields, and non-technical professionals who work with and alongside technical experts.

Ben Piper, David Clifton (Author), Ray Greenley (Narrator)

Audiobook

How to Stop the End of the World

Colin Coleridge is facing a long, boring summer holiday with NOTHING to do. But when he notices some weird markings outside his house, and some strangers acting VERY suspiciously in his neighbour’s garden, he decides to investigate. And before too long, Colin and his new friend Lucy have found themselves caught up in a mission involving an ancient sword, a mysterious curse, and a plan to SAVE THE WORLD… Hilarious, fast-paced, and action-packed, How to Stop the End of the World is an apocalyptically funny adventure for readers aged 9+, from the highly-acclaimed author of Escape from Camp Boring and When Things Went Wild.

Tom Mitchell (Author), Jot Davies (Narrator)

Audiobook