The acclaimed author of Einstein’s Dreams tackles "big questions like the origin of the universe and the nature of consciousness ... in an entertaining and easily digestible way” (Wall Street Journal) with a collection of meditative essays on the possibilities—and impossibilities—of nothingness and infinity, and how our place in the cosmos falls somewhere in between. Can space be divided into smaller and smaller units, ad infinitum? Does space extend to larger and larger regions, on and on to infinity? Is consciousness reducible to the material brain and its neurons? What was the origin of life, and can biologists create life from scratch in the lab? Physicist and novelist Alan Lightman, whom The Washington Post has called “the poet laureate of science writers,” explores these questions and more—from the anatomy of a smile to the capriciousness of memory to the specialness of life in the universe to what came before the Big Bang. Probable Impossibilities is a deeply engaged consideration of what we know of the universe, of life and the mind, and of things vastly larger and smaller than ourselves.

'Musings of My Mind' is a beautiful book on poetry, by 16 year old writer, Suzanne Alexy, who has weaved her thoughts, emotions and experiences as a compilation of poems and songs, penned between the age of 8 and 16. This is a 'coming of age' poetry book, a labour of love that transcends childhood to teens. While the poems have a classic touch of rhyme and rhythm, the spectrum she covers, resonates with a contemporary context. Some will tickle your funny bone, some will tug your heart, some will have you shed a tear and some will put you in deep thought. So grab your copy today, flip the pages and savour a melange of emotions in her poetic musings.

Inspired by reality, shaped with imagination, these stories beautifully capture the lives of the characters that take us through a journey into their lives . The stories subtly embrace the plethora of emotions of love, joy, sorrow, anger, fear or faith through myriad experiences of the people narrated through the pages described so beautifully that they feel so real. Set in a multi cultural societal backdrop, the stories will take you away to places which you can visualize beautifully between the lines. If you are stealing moments away from work, or just whiling away some time, or sipping on your favorite cup of tea or just trying to read a few lines before sleep settles into your eyelids, or just one of those who don’t have the patience to read novels... This book holds a humble collection of short stories that helps you unwind and enjoy.

There are moments in your life that you hold close within your heart. They become memories that you cherish, that you hold dear. You keep them locked away in a secret place in your heart and only can be reached through the opening of your soul. That is where you hold your most treasured blessings. Only those treasures find there way into this chamber and only those treasures remain when others fall away. This special place is your soul's heart chest; its key is only found through the special corridor of your heart.Sometimes beautiful souls find there way into this special place. This is what makes them more than friends, more than soulmates, it makes them part of your heart, part of your soul. They become part of your most cherished treasures; they become part of your soul's heart chest where they are protected forever. I have been blessed with very few who have touched me in this way and I know that I am blessed beyond measure to have been touched by such rare treasures. It is within my soul's heart chest that I keep you forever protected. Your souls are more than amazing and beautiful doesn't even come close to describing you. You have lit my path in the darkness and helped me find my way home. You have reminded me that it's ok to be me, that it's ok to be wounded. That it's ok not to be perfect. Most importantly, you have accepted me for who I am and loved me for it in spite of it, unconditionally. To open up and receive the love you offer and give love back in return without fear.You will always be protected in my soul's heart chest. Where I keep all of my most treasured blessings and there you will stay forever. You are always part of my heart and soul and I love you for who you are but also for who I am because of you.Daddy don't cry, your Wounded Butterfly finally learned how to fly... I miss you, thank you for believing in me when nobody else did. Sending so much love to you up in Heaven.

Science journalist John Horgan presents a radical new perspective on the mind-body problem and related issues such as consciousness, free will, morality and the meaning of life. Horgan argues that science will never discover an objectively true solution to the mind-body problem because such a solution does not exist. Horgan explores his thesis by delving into the professional and personal lives of nine mind-body experts, including neuroscientist Christof Koch, cognitive scientist Douglas Hofstadter, child psychologist Alison Gopnik, complexologist Stuart Kauffman, legal scholar and psychoanalyst Elyn Saks, philosopher Owen Flanagan, novelist Rebecca Goldstein, evolutionary biologist Robert Trivers, and economist Deirdre McCloskey.

“A short story is a different thing altogether. A short story is like a quick kiss in the dark from a stranger.” – Stephen King The Devil’s Workshop is a collection of short stories, each uniquely different, each distinctively dissimilar… yet they blend together to offer a scrumptious buffet guaranteed to satisfy the most fastidious of readers. The ‘recipe’ includes a copious quantity of humour, a large dollop of the supernatural, a generous measure of romance, a dash of mystery, a pinch of passion, a sprinkling of sentimentality, a grain of truth, a tinge of sympathy and just a touch of eroticism. All these ingredients have been marinated in nostalgia, simmered in a large cauldron of memories, seasoned with a mixture of emotions, garnished with tenderness and served with an abundance of love. This exotic combination of flavours will undoubtedly satiate even the most discerning of palates, and the taste will continue to linger – long after it has been consumed!

An Egyptian woman's reflections on her changing homeland—updated with an afterword on the Arab Spring In language that vividly evokes the lush summers of Cairo and the stark beauty of the Arabian desert, Leila Ahmed movingly recounts her Egyptian childhood growing up in a rich tradition of Islamic women and describes how she eventually came to terms with her identity as a feminist living in America. As a young woman in Cairo in the forties and fifties, Ahmed witnessed some of the major transformations of this century—the end of British colonialism, the rise of Arab nationalism, and the breakdown of Egypt's once multireligious society. As today's Egypt continues to undergo revolutionary change, Ahmed's inspirational story remains as poignant and relevant as ever.

Have you ever found yourself asking, “Is this all there is to life?” Or wondering if this bigger life you have created is actually a better life? And do you wonder how it all got so out of control? In her groundbreaking bestseller The Not So Big House, architect Sarah Susanka showed us a new way to inhabit our houses by creating homes that were better–not bigger. Now, in The Not So Big Life, Susanka takes her revolutionary philosophy to another dimension by showing us a new way to inhabit our lives. Most of us have lives that are as cluttered with unwanted obligations as our attics are cluttered with things. The bigger-is-better idea that triggered the explosion of McMansions has spilled over to give us McLives. For many of us, our ability to find the time to do what we want to do has come to a grinding halt. Now we barely have time to take a breath before making the next call on our cell phone, while at the same time messaging someone else on our Blackberry. Our schedules are chaotic and overcommitted, leaving us so stressed that we are numb, yet we wonder why we cannot fall asleep at night. In The Not So Big Life, Susanka shows us that it is possible to take our finger off the fast-forward button, and to our surprise we find how effortless and rewarding this change can be. We do not have to lead a monastic life or give up the things we love. In fact, the real joy of leading a not so big life is discovering that the life we love has been there the entire time. Through simple exercises and inspiring stories, Susanka shows us that all we need to do is make small shifts in our day–subtle movements that open our minds as if we were finally opening the windows to let in fresh air. The Not So Big Life reveals that form and function serve not only architectural aims but life goals as well. Just as we can tear down interior walls to reveal space, we can tear down our fears and assumptions to open up new possibilities. The result is that we quickly discover we have all the space and time we need for the things in our lives that really matter. But perhaps the greatest reward is the discovery that small changes can yield enormous results. In her elegant, clear style, Susanka convinces us that less truly is more–much more.

The Mind Illuminated is a comprehensive, accessible and - above all - effective book on meditation, providing a nuts-and-bolts stage-based system that helps all levels of meditators establish and deepen their practice. Providing step-by-step guidance for every stage of the meditation path, this uniquely comprehensive guide for a Western audience combines the wisdom from the teachings of the Buddha with the latest research in cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Clear and friendly, this in-depth practice manual builds on the nine-stage model of meditation originally articulated by the ancient Indian sage Asanga, crystallizing the entire meditative journey into 10 clearly-defined stages. The book also introduces a new and fascinating model of how the mind works, and uses illustrations and charts to help the reader work through each stage. This manual is an essential read for the beginner to the seasoned veteran of meditation.

A Comedy of Horrors is a collection of stories and poetry with an unusual flair. Some are horror stories, some are stories of the supernatural and the macabre, and some of the stories are just plain weird. There are fairy tales and science fiction, fantasy and fiction, and there are even a couple that deal with real life issues written from a different perspective. The poetry is mostly surreal and dark.