Strike up a conversation with a citizen from the post-communist region and invariably the talk will turn to the topic of corruption - the misuse of public power for private gain. People are sure that corruption is widespread, whether from their own experiences or stories they have heard from others. They feel frustrated that there seems to be nothing they can do about it, that they are helpless, and that they are being played for fools. And many are cynical: they feel that they, too, have to play the game because "the system" compels them to do so. But what system exactly? What are the structures and mechanisms of corruption in post-communist societies? "The System Made Me Do It" is the first comprehensive study of the origin, nature, and consequences of corruption in post-communist societies. While international actors decry corruption as a major impediment to democracy building and economic development, the problem is not well understood. This book fills that gap, and suggests innovative and practical institutional strategies for containing corruption. It achieves a rare and perfect balance of disciplined analysis, practicality, and passion.

'Jérémie Harris is a very funny scientist. I laughed all the way through' - Bob McDonald From Silicon Valley entrepreneur, quantum physicist, AI risk expert, and Hollywood "alternative reality" consultant Jérémie Harris, comes an entertaining and accessible look at the world of quantum physics. The discovery of quantum mechanics has paved the way to just about every important innovation in the last half century: it has led us to the technology that powers microwaves, iPhones, and self-driving cars and is about to trigger a computing revolution that will either spell the end of the human species or propel us to heights we've never imagined. But there's another reason that quantum mechanics is so important: it is really the only way we can understand ourselves and each other. For the last hundred years or so, physicists have been feverishly debating what quantum theory has to say about you: what you're made of, whether you have free will, what will happen to you when you die, and much more. QUANTUM PHYSICS MADE ME DO IT is an amusing, irreverent exploration of the most successful scientific theory in human history, and a smart, entertaining adventure through the complex and beautiful world mapped out by modern physics.

An entertaining and accessible dive into the riveting world described by quantum mechanics, from physicist, AI risk expert, and Hollywood “alternative reality” consultant Jérémie Harris. Are human beings immortal? Are apples conscious? Do our legal systems make assumptions about free will that are just plain wrong? Of all the terrific books on quantum physics—from Stephen Hawking to Brian Greene—the questions they never seem to satisfy are the implications of the science. We know that quantum physics is real—our phones and computers wouldn’t work if the science wasn’t right. But what does it all mean? Does it mean that we live in one among a near-infinity of parallel universes? Or that everything that happens in the universe is pre-ordained—right down to what we think and how we act? Or does the science point in a stranger direction—towards the idea that the entire universe is one big mind? If one of these is true, what would it mean for our place in the universe, our immortal souls, and the future of humanity itself? The most basic encounter with quantum physics leads us to a dizzying array of incredible implications, each one more capable than the last of blowing our minds—all of which can be engaged without advanced math or deep knowledge of theory. Enter: Quantum Physics Made Me Do It—a smart, accessible, and engaging adventure through the complex and beautiful world mapped out by modern physics. Jérémie Harris at last offers us a book on quantum physics that the entire universe can enjoy—perhaps together as one big mind.

In the ten years since its electrifying debut, Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat Pray Love has become a worldwide phenomenon, empowering millions of readers to set out on paths they never thought possible. In this candid and captivating collection, nearly fifty of those readers – as diverse in their experiences as they are in age and background – share their stories. Eat Pray Love helped one woman to embrace motherhood, another to come to terms with the loss of her mother, and a third to find peace with not wanting to become a mother at all. One writer finds new love overseas; another embraces his sexual identity. The journeys they recount are transformative –sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, but always inspiring. Entertaining and enlightening, Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It is a celebration for fans old and new.

They warned public policy experts, then mesmerized by promising new government programs, that these were likely to be less successful than mediating institutions. Now, many of their ideas vindicated, the authors have returned to their original argument to assess what has succeeded, what has gone wrong, and what remains to be done. For this new edition, they have invited twelve scholars to join them in pointing toward new directions for the future.