Weekly Picks (2026-01-28)
人類存在的意義 : 一個生物學家對生命的思索 =The meaning of human existence
Author:
Wilson, Edward O., 1929-2021
Publication Info:
如果出版, 2025
ISBN:
9786267498743
Library Holding:
2/F A3 Education & Arts, BD 450 Wil 2025
Edward O. Wilson, a two-time Pulitzer Prize laureate, explores humanity's place in the universe through evolutionary biology. From our African origins to our cosmic significance, Wilson reveals how human civilization emerges from the eternal conflict between selfish and altruistic genes. He deconstructs spiritual illusions—instinct, religion, free will—as evolutionary products. With elegant prose and profound insight, the book addresses our biological future and environmental responsibility, offering a scientifically rigorous yet philosophically inspiring vision of human existence.
不確定性的力量 : 在變動時代擁抱未知，突破思維框架，提升創造力與決策能力 = Uncertain : the wisdom and wonder of being unsure
Author:
Jackson, Maggie, 1960-
Subject:
Uncertainty AND Creative ability
Publication Info:
馬可孛羅文化, 2025
ISBN:
9786267520703
Library Holding:
2/F A3 Education & Arts, BF 463 U5 Jac 2025
Maggie Jackson's groundbreaking work challenges our fear of uncertainty. Through psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy, the author reveals how uncertainty fuels creativity, strengthens decision-making, and fosters mutual understanding. From medical education to artificial intelligence, Jackson demonstrates that uncertainty isn't a threat but an opportunity. Rather than eliminating anxiety, the book guides readers to embrace ambiguity, developing resilience and wisdom amid unpredictability. This timely guide empowers individuals and leaders to transform uncertainty into growth, creativity, and better choices in our rapidly changing world.
The opposite of cheating : teaching for integrity in the age of AI
Author:
Bertram Gallant, Tricia, 1970-
Publication Info:
University of Oklahoma Press, 2025
ISBN:
9780806194967
Library Holding:
2/F A3 Education & Arts, LA 227.4 Ber 2025
"The opposite of cheating : teaching for integrity in the age of AI" research-based approach to academic integrity in the AI era. Instead of relying solely on detection and punishment, the authors advocate redesigning teaching, assessment, and faculty-student relationships to reduce cheating and enhance learning. Drawing on empirical studies and practical examples across disciplines and modalities, the book provides actionable strategies to foster honesty, meaningful assessment, and student growth—helping educators protect academic standards while adapting to generative AI and online challenges.
Algospeak : how social media is transforming the future of language
Author:
Aleksic, Adam
Subject:
Language and the Internet AND Slang
Publication Info:
Ebury Press, 2025
ISBN:
9781529949148
Library Holding:
2/F C2 Language & Literature, P 120 I6 Ale 2025
In "Algospeak : how social media is transforming the future of language" Harvard linguist Adam Aleksic unveils how social media algorithms are revolutionizing language communication. Exploring emerging internet slang, memes, and digital communication patterns, the book reveals how platforms transform linguistic expressions. From emoji etymology to youth vernacular, Aleksic demonstrates how technology reshapes our interactions, offering an energetic, insightful journey into the intersection of digital culture and linguistic evolution.
Future needs wisdom : an intellectual memoir
Author:
Nowotny, Helga
Publication Info:
Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2024
ISBN:
9789882373204
Library Holding:
3/F A2 Science & Medicine, Q 143 N68 Fut 2024
In "Future Needs Wisdom", Helga Nowotny, a pioneer in Science and Technology Studies, reflects on her extraordinary journey through academia and policymaking. This captivating memoir explores her role in shaping the European Research Council and offers profound insights into the challenges of the AI era. Fusing personal anecdotes with intellectual history, Nowotny argues that true wisdom lies in embracing uncertainty and ambivalence. It is an inspiring roadmap for anyone navigating the complexities of modern science and societal innovation in a fragile future.
發明與創新 = Invention and innovation : a brief history of hype and failure
Author:
Smil, Vaclav
Publication Info:
遠足文化, 2024
ISBN:
9786269871353
Library Holding:
3/F A2 Science & Medicine, T 15 Smi 2024
In " Invention and innovation : a brief history of hype and failure" Vaclav Smil offers a compelling exploration of technological evolution, dissecting humanity's innovation journey from prehistoric tools to modern AI. With keen insights, the book critically examines overhyped technologies, revealing the complex landscape of human creativity. Bill Gates praises Smil's work for its rigorous analysis, highlighting failed inventions and the often-overlooked challenges in technological progress, making it an essential read for understanding innovation's true dynamics.
一線之間 : 流轉於民族歷史、流行象徵、身份認同的眼妝符號 = Eyeliner : a cultural history
Author:
Hankir, Zahra
Publication Info:
臺灣商務印書館, 2024
ISBN:
9789570535945
Library Holding:
3/F C2 History & Geography, GT 2340 Han 2024
"Eyeliner : a cultural history" by Layla Salih offers a captivating cultural history of eyeliner, tracing its evolution from ancient protection to a modern symbol of identity. The book explores how this simple cosmetic line has served as a religious talisman in Egypt, a mark of resistance in South Asia, and a rebellious tool for subcultures like Goth and Punk. Through insightful analysis, Salih reveals how eye makeup intersects with gender, race, and politics, making it a powerful emblem of human self-expression across centuries.
香料 : 以摩鹿加群島為中心, 見證十六世紀形塑現代世界的權力地圖 = Spice : the 16th-century contest that shaped the modern world
Author:
Crowley, Roger, 1951-
Subject:
Spice trade--History
Publication Info:
馬可孛羅文化, 2025
ISBN:
9786267520574
Library Holding:
4/F A1 Business Administration, HD 9210 A2 Cro 2025
Roger Crowley's "Spice : the 16th-century contest that shaped the modern world" unveils the dramatic 16th-century global power struggle centered on the Molucca Islands. Through masterful storytelling, he explores how the spice trade transformed international relations, with Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch empires battling for supremacy. Crowley meticulously reconstructs a world where exotic commodities sparked unprecedented maritime adventures, colonial ambitions, and cultural encounters, revealing how these small islands fundamentally reshaped global economic and political landscapes.
父权: 男性统治的伊始与终结 = The patriarchs : the origins of inequality
Author:
Saini, Angela, 1980-
Publication Info:
浙江人民出版社, 2025
ISBN:
9787213119439
Library Holding:
G/F C1 Circulation Counter (Borrowing Desk) : Items on Reserve, HM 821 Sai 2025
In " The patriarchs : the origins of inequality" feminist scholar Catharine Eagleton offers a groundbreaking exploration of male dominance's historical roots. Through a multidisciplinary lens, she traces how patriarchal systems emerged, evolved, and embedded themselves in human societies. Eagleton critically examines gender power dynamics, revealing the complex mechanisms of male control while challenging traditional narratives. Her work provides a comprehensive analysis of patriarchy's origins, offering hope for its potential dismantling and a more equitable social future.
終結數位焦慮 = The phone fix
Author:
Begeti, Faye
Publication Info:
城邦文化, 2025
ISBN:
9786267488652
Library Holding:
4/F C1 Law & Public Administration, HM 851 Beg 2025
"The phone fix" offers a groundbreaking neuroscientific approach to combating technology addiction. The author reveals the brain's mechanisms behind digital distraction, presenting the innovative "Building Blocks Method" to reclaim cognitive focus. By combining scientific research with practical strategies, the book provides a comprehensive guide to managing digital overwhelm, helping readers understand and overcome smartphone dependency, and restoring mental clarity in an increasingly connected world.
特权与惩罚 : 美国司法的阴影 =Privilege and punishment : how race and class matter in criminal court.
Author:
Clair, Matthew K.
Subject:
Discrimination in criminal justice administration AND Racism in criminal justice administration
Publication Info:
上海人民出版社, 2024
ISBN:
9787208186705
Library Holding:
4/F C1 Law & Public Administration, HV 9956 B6 Cla 2024
"Privilege and punishment : how race and class matter in criminal court" is a groundbreaking legal study by Princeton University Press. Based on systematic fieldwork in Boston courts, Matthew Clair examines how race and class shape criminal justice outcomes. Through courtroom observation and interviews with defendants, lawyers, judges, and officials, the book reveals how identical crimes result in starkly different punishments. By combining sociological insight with legal analysis, Clair demonstrates how the judicial system perpetuates systemic inequality, challenging assumptions about fairness and equal protection under law.
法律研究学生指南 = A Student's guide to the study of law
Author:
Bradley, Gerard V.
Publication Info:
商务印书馆, 2024
ISBN:
9787100239028
Library Holding:
4/F C1 Law & Public Administration, KF 385 Bra 2024
A Student's Guide to Legal Study, authored by Gerard V. Bradley from Notre Dame Law School, explores the fundamental question: what is law for? The book examines law as grounded in human moral reality and community. Across four chapters, Bradley investigates the relationship between law, culture, and morality, explores the "double life" of law as both prescriptive norm and descriptive fact, examines religion's role in constitutional order, and addresses criminal law and punishment. Six appendices deepen discussions on law and morality.
法的第一课 = Prima lezione di diritto
Author:
Grossi, Paolo
Publication Info:
北京大学出版社, 2024
ISBN:
9787301348147
Library Holding:
4/F C1 Law & Public Administration, KZ 1242 Gro 2024
"Prima lezione di diritto", by renowned Italian jurist Paolo Grossi, explores fundamental questions about law's purpose and nature. Rather than a mere technical discipline, Grossi presents law as a cultural experience and distinctive way to understand and organize society. The book examines how law emerges from misunderstandings of its nature, tracing its moral foundations, historical dimensions, and methodological perspectives. Grossi investigates the relationship between law and state, how legal systems limit power and violence through rules, and how law transcends ordinary understanding to serve society's organizational needs.