One Human Minute

Essays by the author of Solaris: “Lem’s delightful sense of humor accentuates his essential seriousness about humanity’s possible fate” (Publishers Weekly). In One Human Minute, Stanislaw Lem takes a hard look at our world and technology—what it means now and what dire implications it could have for the future—in satirical, wise, and biting prose. With this collection of three essays, Lem targets some of the most pressing issues humanity faces, from our unsettling origins to the cybernetic future of our weaponry. “The Upside-Down Evolution” chronicles the Earth’s military evolution from nuclear stockpiles to deadly, robotic microweapons. “The World as Cataclysm” examines how humankind’s dominance on Earth is the result of the extermination of another species just as qualified to rule the world. And the title essay presents a disturbing and fascinating snapshot of every single thing happening on the planet in a sixty-second span. Effortlessly blurring the lines between fiction and nonfiction, scientific essay and fantastical short story, cynical reproach and wry humor, Lem’s One Human Minute combines the best elements of the renowned science fiction author and Kafka Prize winner’s writing into one irreverent and intellectually stimulating package.

"Is it ever the wrong time to do the right thing? That's the question the Gray Man faces ... I am Court Gentry. In my time, I've seen plenty of bad stuff. Some things worse than others, but nothing that can match this horror show. I was on a simple mission in Bosnia. A bad guy needed to be put down; in and out, no problem. But then I stumbled across a nightmare--a room full of women and children who were being trafficked to rich scum. Since then, I've been tracking their smuggling ring around the globe, and I'm finally near the top. I've got the sociopathic ringleaders in my sights, ready for a takedown, but my CIA handlers have different plans for me. Now I've got to make a decision: duty or honor. They all think they have me boxed in, but there's one thing they're forgetting: I am the Gray Man"--

In a world ruled by machines, a young robot encounters a girl who needs help in this children’s sci-fi adventure—soon to be a major motion picture! Humans went extinct thirty years ago. And twelve-year-old robot XR_935 is just fine with that. Without humans around, there is no war, crime, or pollution. Everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Until the day XR discovers something impossible: a human girl named Emma. Now, Emma, XR, and two other robots must embark on a dangerous voyage in search of a mysterious point on a map. But how will they survive in a place where rules are never broken and humans aren’t even supposed to exist? Narrated in the first person (first robot?) by XR, The Last Human blends humor and action to tell a story about friendship, technology, and challenging the status quo no matter the consequences. It’s not just about what it means to be a robot. It’s about what it means to be a human./

In Enormous Changes at the Last Minute, originally published in 1974, Grace Paley "makes the novel as a form seem virtually redundant" (Angela Carter, London Review of Books). Her stories here capture "the itch of the city, love between parents and children" and "the cutting edge of combat" (Lis Harris, The New York Times Book Review). In this collection of seventeen stories, she creates a "solid and vital fictional world, cross-referenced and dense with life" (Walter Clemons, Newsweek).

Sarah Harper is driven to achieve success no matter what the cost. She wants to do good and not hurt the people she loves -- especially children and her husband, Joe -- but her desire to succeed in her career too often leaves little time for family. One cold, autumn afternoon, all of that changes when Sarah's car plunges off a bridge and into a river. She is presumed dead by those on the "outside," but Sarah's spirit is still very much alive. What she discovers on the other side transforms everything about Sarah's view of life -- past, present, and future. When Sarah is revived, she is a changed woman. And the unsuspecting world around her will never be the same again.

In simple text and illustrations, the author explains all the things that can happen in a minute--both good and bad.

In this newly released edition of one of his classic books, The One Minute Sales Person, Spencer Johnson, the author of the number one New York Times bestseller Who Moved My Cheese?, shows you how to sell your ideas, products, or services successfully! This is the book that has proved to be a must-have for the millions of people who were looking for the quickest way to improve their selling skills. In these changing times, Spencer Johnson, coauthor of The One Minute Manager®, shows you how the phenomenal One Minute® methods can bring real and lasting sales success with the least amount of time and effort. You will learn how to enjoy your job and your life more as you discover the effective secrets of "self-management," the integrity of "selling on purpose," and the liberating "wonderful paradox" of helping others get what they want so you can get what you need. The One Minute Sales Person is a clear, easy and invaluable guide that works for both you and the people you sell to, for your financial prosperity and personal well-being. In short, it is a classic Spencer Johnson bestseller that can help you enjoy more success with less stress.