Late in 2017, the conversation about the global impact of artificial intelligence (AI) changed forever. China delivered a bold message when it released a national plan to dominate all aspects of AI across the planet. Within weeks, Russia's Vladimir Putin raised the stakes by declaring AI the future for all humankind, and proclaiming that, "Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world."

The race was on. Consistent with their unique national agendas, countries throughout the world began plotting their paths and hurrying their pace. Now, not long after, the race has become a sprint.

Despite everything at risk, for most of us AI remains shrouded by a cloud of mystery and misunderstanding. Hidden behind complex technical terms and confused even further by extravagant depictions in science fiction, the realities of AI and its profound implications are hard to decipher, but no less crucial to understand.

In T-Minus AI: Humanity's Countdown to Artificial Intelligence and the New Pursuit of Global Power, author Michael Kanaan explains the realities of AI from a human-oriented perspective that's easy to comprehend. A recognized national expert and the U.S. Air Force's first Chairperson for Artificial Intelligence, Kanaan weaves a compelling new view on our history of innovation and technology to masterfully explain what each of us should know about modern computing, AI, and machine learning.

Kanaan also illuminates the global implications of AI by highlighting the cultural and national vulnerabilities already exposed and the pressing issues now squarely on the table. AI has already become China's all-purpose tool to impose authoritarian influence around the world. Russia, playing catch up, is weaponizing AI through its military systems and now infamous, aggressive efforts to disrupt democracy by whatever disinformation means possible.

America and like-minded nations are awakening to these new realities, and the paths they're electing to follow echo loudly, in most cases, the political foundations and moral imperatives upon which they were formed.

As we march toward a future far different than ever imagined, T-Minus AI is fascinating and critically well-timed. It leaves the fiction behind, paints the alarming implications of AI for what they actually are, and calls for unified action to protect fundamental human rights and dignities for all.

Universal basic income. A 15-hour workweek. Open borders. Does it sound too good to be true? One of Europe's leading young thinkers shows how we can build an ideal world today.

After working all day at jobs we often dislike, we buy things we don't need. Rutger Bregman, a Dutch historian, reminds us it needn't be this way—and in some places it isn't. Rutger Bregman's TED Talk about universal basic income seemed impossibly radical when he delivered it in 2014. A quarter of a million views later, the subject of that video is being seriously considered by leading economists and government leaders the world over. It's just one of the many utopian ideas that Bregman proves is possible today.

Utopia for Realists is one of those rare books that takes you by surprise and challenges what you think can happen. From a Canadian city that once completely eradicated poverty, to Richard Nixon's near implementation of a basic income for millions of Americans, Bregman takes us on a journey through history, and beyond the traditional left-right divides, as he champions ideas whose time have come.

Every progressive milestone of civilization—from the end of slavery to the beginning of democracy—was once considered a utopian fantasy. Bregman's book, both challenging and bracing, demonstrates that new utopian ideas, like the elimination of poverty and the creation of the fifteen-hour workweek, can become a reality in our lifetime. Being unrealistic and unreasonable can in fact make the impossible inevitable, and it is the only way to build the ideal world.

Learn how extraordinary companies do what they do so well, and obtain the tools and ideas you need to emulate them. Full of case studies and personal reflections by leaders of exceptional companies, Becoming a Category of One is designed to help anyone transform their run-of-the-mill business into an extraordinary company–whether you operate a multinational corporation or a mom-and-pop shop.

Joe Calloway doesn't offer any mumbo-jumbo or flavor-of-the-day buzzwords, just simple lessons that lead to real, proven results.

For those who believe that there must be a more agile and efficient way for people to get things done, Scrum is a brilliantly discursive, thought-provoking book about the leadership and management process that is changing the way we live.

Jeff Sutherland, the man who put together the first Scrum team more than twenty years ago, offers a compelling explanation of Scrum and its bright promise. Scrum is already driving most of the world's top technology companies and is now spreading to every domain where leaders wrestle with complex projects. Productivity gains of as much as 1200% have been recorded, showcasing the significant impact of Scrum.

Drawing on his experience as a West Point-educated fighter pilot, biometrics expert, early innovator of ATM technology, and V.P. of engineering or CTO at eleven different technology companies, Sutherland challenges dysfunctional realities, looking for solutions with global impact. This book takes you to Scrum's front lines where deep accountability, team interaction, and constant iterative improvement are bringing remarkable results.

From transforming the FBI's outdated systems to perfecting the design of an affordable high-efficiency vehicle, and from improving healthcare delivery to aiding in humanitarian efforts, Scrum is making a difference. The insights from various fields, including martial arts, judicial decision making, and advanced aerial combat, make Scrum consistently riveting.

Reading this book may help you achieve what others consider unachievable, be it inventing groundbreaking technology, creating a new educational system, pioneering ways to feed the hungry, or building a foundation for your family to thrive and prosper.

We live in an era of unprecedented innovation opportunities. Despite building more products than ever, the majority fail—not due to our inability to realize our visions, but because we squander time, resources, and effort crafting the wrong products. What's necessary is a methodical process to quickly evaluate product concepts and improve our chances of success. This is the core of Running Lean.

In this motivating read, Ash Maurya presents a detailed strategy for reaching 'product/market fit' with your nascent venture, drawing on his extensive experience developing a diverse range of products, from high-tech to no-tech. He incorporates insights and methodologies from several groundbreaking approaches, such as the Lean Startup, Customer Development, and bootstrapping.

Running Lean is the quintessential tool for business managers, CEOs, small business owners, developers, programmers, and anyone aspiring to launch a business project.

What do the superstars of modern business have in common? An ability to flip—to think counterintuitively and then act boldly, with no regard for "business as usual" conventions. Peter Sheahan, one of the youngest and fastest-rising stars on the international consulting and speaking circuit, reveals how the world's most effective organizations and individuals distinguish themselves from the competition instead of running with the pack.

Sheahan explores six major flips: Action Creates Clarity—to move forward you must act in spite of ambiguity. Fast, Good, Cheap: Pick Three, Then Add Something Extra—the new standard in every industry. To develop competitive advantage, you must Absolutely, Positively Sweat the Small Stuff. Satisfy customers' needs for engagement and contact—it's not "just business"—Business Is Personal. To win mass-market success, be courageous, Find It on the Fringe, and separate yourself from the competitive herd. To Get Control, Give It Up—empower others to create, dream, and believe for you.

Stick to what you learned in business school at your peril. Today's small-world economy calls for a new way of doing business. It calls for Flip.