(TWTR SPC) The Tools Episode!

In 'The Big Goodbye', Sam Wasson delves into the creation of Roman Polanski's 'Chinatown', exploring its cultural significance and the tumultuous period in Hollywood's history. The book offers a detailed look at the film's production and its lasting influence on the film industry.

In 'Game Wizards', Jon Peterson chronicles the rise of Dungeons & Dragons from a hobbyist pastime to a mass market sensation, detailing the collaboration and subsequent feud between Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The book explores the founding of TSR, the company's growth and challenges, and the impact of the 'Satanic Panic' on the game's popularity. Peterson provides a detailed and balanced view of the tumultuous history surrounding D&D's creation.

Julie Salamon's 'The Devil's Candy' provides a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the film 'Bonfire of the Vanities', exploring why it failed despite its promising premise and high-profile cast. The book offers insights into the challenges of adapting complex literature for the screen and the dynamics of Hollywood filmmaking.

The Blade Itself is the first book in the First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. It follows multiple characters, primarily Logen Ninefingers, a northern barbarian trying to leave his dark past behind; Captain Jezal dan Luthar, a nobleman and skilled swordsman; and Inquisitor Glokta, a crippled former warrior turned torturer. The story is set in a world where war is looming, and the characters are embroiled in murderous conspiracies, old scores, and the blurred lines between heroism and villainy. The book is known for its dark humor, vivid battle scenes, and complex character development, setting the stage for the rest of the trilogy.

The Ultimate History of Video Games, Volume 2, explores the evolution of the gaming industry as Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and Microsoft compete for global market share. It covers the development of modern consoles and iconic franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Halo. The book provides insights into the cutthroat environment of console development and the strategic decisions that shaped the industry.

The Infinite Machine tells the story of Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, and its journey to become the 'next internet'. It explores the chaotic beginnings of Ethereum, led by Vitalik Buterin, and delves into the platform's innovative applications and challenges. The book details how Ethereum has sparked both transformation and fraud, impacting global finance and technology.

New York, New York, New York by Thomas Dyja offers a sweeping account of New York City's metamorphosis from a state of decay in the late 1970s to its current status as a global hub. The book explores the city's evolution through various eras, including the Koch Renaissance, Giuliani's Reformation, and Bloomberg's Reimagination, highlighting both successes and challenges. Dyja weaves together stories of diverse New Yorkers, from artists to entrepreneurs, to illustrate how the city's transformations have influenced urban life worldwide.

This book introduces the Zettelkasten method, a note-taking system developed by Niklas Luhmann. It emphasizes the importance of creating a reliable and simple external structure to compensate for the limitations of our brains. Ahrens explains how to organize notes in a way that fosters deep thinking, learning, and writing. The method involves taking atomic notes, linking ideas, and using a slip-box to store and connect these notes. This approach helps in developing a lifelong pool of rich and interconnected ideas, enhancing productivity, and improving critical thinking and writing skills.

In this book, Bill Bryson embarks on a journey to understand and explain the vast expanse of scientific knowledge, from the origins of the universe to the development of modern science. He explores various fields such as astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and anthropology, making complex concepts clear and entertaining for the layman. Bryson's approach is informal and chatty, filled with wit and anecdotes about the scientists and their discoveries. The book is structured chronologically, helping readers understand how each scientific discovery led to the next, and it highlights both the achievements and the failures of scientists throughout history.

The Broken Earth trilogy, comprising The Fifth Season, The Obelisk Gate, and The Stone Sky, is set in a world where catastrophic events known as Seasons have shaped the society and geography. The series follows characters like Essun, a powerful orogene, as they navigate a world where orogenes are both feared and essential for survival. The trilogy explores themes of racial and religious intolerance, environmental calamities, and the struggle for power and survival in a world constantly on the brink of disaster. Each book in the trilogy won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, with The Stone Sky also winning the 2017 Nebula Award for Best Novel.

Seveneves tells the story of an apocalyptic event where the Moon suddenly breaks apart without warning, leading to a catastrophic 'Hard Rain' of moon fragments that will render Earth uninhabitable for thousands of years. The novel follows the global efforts to save humanity by evacuating people to a swarm of 'arklet' habitats in orbit. The story is divided into three parts, covering the immediate aftermath, the long-term survival in space, and the eventual re-colonization of Earth five thousand years later. The book delves into themes of science, technology, genetics, and the long-term implications of human survival and societal rebuilding.

This book chronicles the history of the Burgundian dynasty from its beginnings to its decline, focusing on figures like Philip the Bold and Charles the Bold. It delves into the political intrigue, cultural achievements, and historical significance of the Burgundians in shaping the Low Countries. The narrative is engaging and richly detailed, making it a compelling read for history enthusiasts.

This book provides a deeply reported and vividly drawn portrait of how Amazon expanded exponentially since the publication of Stone's previous book, 'The Everything Store'. It covers the invention of novel products like Alexa, the disruption of countless industries, and the significant growth of Amazon's workforce and valuation. The book also delves into the evolution of Jeff Bezos, from a geeky technologist to a disciplined billionaire with global ambitions, and explores the trade-offs between efficiency and market dominance.