How Nikola Tesla Inspired Google Founder Larry Page

The favorite biography among Tesla fans, Prodigal Genius: The Life of Nikola Tesla by John J. O'Neill has been getting some recent media attention in The Business Insider.  The article documents the untold story of Larry Page (the co-founder of Google), how he came to found Google, his struggles, his successes, and his relationships with his coworkers. The writer of the article, Nicholas Carlson, compares the two individuals and depicts how Page learned from Tesla's story* and read O'Neill's biography as a young boy. 

Some highlights from the article include:

"In that moment, Page realised it wasn’t enough to envision an innovative technological future. Big ideas aren’t enough. They need to be commercialized. If Page wanted to be an inventor, he was going to have to start a successful company, too."

"Tesla’s story also taught Page to watch out for the Thomas Edisons of the world — people who will use you and place your dreams in the service of their own cynical ends."

To read the full Business Insider article, please do so here. We add a note to this article, which states that Tesla was a Croatian immigrant to the U.S. However, although he was born in Smiljan, currently in Croatia then in the mid 1880s part of the Austrian Hungarian empire, his parents were Serbian and he is considered by most to be Serbian.

Among a hardcover, paperback and eBook version of Prodigal Genius, Cosimo also offers the following titles by Nikola Tesla:

- My Inventions: The Autobiography of Nikola Tesla in paperback, hardcover, and eBook versions

- Experiments With Alternate Currents of High Potential and High Frequency in both paperback and hardcover

- The Problem of Increasing Human Energy: With Special Reference to the Harnessing of the Suns Energy in paperback

Christopher Columbus' ship, the Santa Maria, Possibly Found Near Haiti

"In fourteen hundred ninety-two

Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

He had three ships and left from Spain;

He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain.

He sailed by night; he sailed by day;

He used the stars to find his way."

More than 500 years ago, Christopher Columbus made his first expedition to North America with three ships, Santa Maria, Pinta and Santa Clara. Around Christmas in 1492, Columbus and his crew encountered a storm and had to abandon the Santa Maria after it hit reefs and began to sink. 

The location of the ship was unknown, and has since been missing, until undersea explorer and archaeologist Barry Clifford announced the possible discovery of the ship in waters off of Haiti's coast. If true, this could quickly turn out to be the most important underwater discovery ever. Clifford was able to combine information from Christopher Columbus’ diary and data from discoveries made by other archaeologists looking for the ship to chart where the ship might possibly be.

Possible Santa Maria remains (source: Brandon Clifford)

“The Haitian government has been extremely helpful – and we now need to continue working  with them to carry out a detailed archaeological excavation of the wreck,” Clifford told the Independent.




Clifford is the author of numerous excavation books, the star of several documentaries, and is best known for discovering the remains of the wrecked ship Whydah in 1984.


Read more about Columbus' many journeys, life in Spain, ship adventures, and the discovery of America and other lands in Cosimo's titles:

- Life of Columbus by Arthur Helps

- Voyages and Discoveries of the Companions of Columbus by Washington Irving

- The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus by Washington Irving (available as two separate or volumes or one combined set)

Rob Riggs, Author of In the Big Thicket, Releases New Book

Cosimo would like to congratulate Paraview Author Rob Riggs on his new release, Bigfoot: Exploring the Myth & Discovering the Truth (cowritten by Tom Burnette and published by Llewellyn).

About the book:

Over the past twenty years, these two men have dedicated themselves to the search for Bigfoot in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and the swamplands of Southeast Texas. In his second book, Riggs discusses his new theory, how he believes that Bigfoot(s) use bioradiational energy and telepathic powers to hide from humans. 

He discusses the newly released book as well as his findings, research, experiences, and stake outs in a recent article published by Houstonia Magazine and an audio interview on Coast to Coast AM.

Praise for Bigfoot:

“If you think that monsters aren’t real, it’s time to think again. Tom Burnette and Rob Riggs take us on a roller-coaster ride into a world where the wild things lurk!”

—Nick Redfern, author of Three Men Seeking Monsters 

"The speculations will provide Bigfoot enthusiasts with plenty to contemplate, as will Burnette's assertion that he's captured 'the best Bigfoot picture bar none in the world.'"

—Publishers Weekly

"[A] well-written and thrilling account of their work. The stories in this book will raise the hair on the back of one's neck and cause sleepless nights, especially if one lives near a big woods." 

— San Francisco Book Review

About the Author

Rob Riggs is a journalist and the former publisher of a series of award-winning community newspapers in Texas. His interest in "ghost lights," "wild man" sightings, and related phenomena began as a child when he heard tales about them in his hometown of Sour Lake in Big Thicket country. Riggs began writing about the subject more than twenty years ago while working as a reporter for the Kountze News. Since then his studies of the phenomena have been featured in the Houston Chronicle and theBeaumont Enterprise. Riggs has also consulted on ghost lights for Waseda University in Tokyo and the Harvard College Observatory.

Riggs published his 2001 title, In The Big Thicket On The Trail Of The Wild Man: Exploring Natures Mysterious Dimension, with Paraview Press. Readers will learn about the wonders and curious happenings of East Texas and Southwestern Louisiana. They will emerge with a heightened sense of awe and fascination, as well as a deeper appreciation of the subtle links between the mysteries of nature and the human mind.

In the Big Thicket is available at many online book retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as in an eBook format.

Cecil Helman's Latest Book Released Posthumously

Cecil Helman 
Photograph by Doron Swade

Cosimo is celebrating the life of a Paraview author and beloved father, doctor, medical anthropologist, and lecturer,  Cecil Helman, the month of May.


Cecil Helman, who died on 15 June 2009, was a family practitioner in London whose research articles and textbooks are required readings for many University courses all around the world. His work was able to help doctors, healers, and healthcare professionals better understand their patients' symptoms and how they relate to their belief systems and cultural backgrounds. 

Helman's lastest book, An Amazing Murmur of the Heart, to be released posthumously, looks at the disappearance of the patient as a person from 21st century medicine, told through the stories of his many patients. He asks the question: "Where has the patient gone?’ and answers that patients "are still here, waiting for their doctors to notice them again, to shift their attention away from all their magic machines and high tech tests, and to listen to their stories again. And hidden away in those stories, to hear the faint, almost inaudible, murmuring of their hearts." This last book of Helman's will be published and available for purchase on May 22.






His Paraview Special Editions title, The Body of Frankenstein's Monster: Essays in Myth and Medicine, expands our view of human bodies by exploring its cultural and artistic representations: "Frankenstein. Werewolves. Dracula. These images aren't just imaginary creatures -- they're also powerful symbols of the body. The body can be thought of as a machine made up of parts like Frankenstein's monster, or as a creature ruled by animalistic urges, or as an entity that's vulnerable to infection from a diseased fiend."

In 2004, the American Anthropological Association presented him with a Career Achievement Award, and the following year the Royal Anthropological Institute awarded him its Lucy Mair medal "for consistent excellence in applied anthropology".  His book, Suburban Shaman: Tales From Medicine's Frontline, was honored on BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week in 2006. He also won the Royal College of General Practitioners' Abercrombie medal "for an outstanding contribution to the literature of general practice" and the Book of the Year award from the Society of Medical Writers in 2007. He sadly died of motor neurone disease in 2009. He left behind his former wife Vetta, and his daughter Zoe, to whom he dedicated many of his work.

May Organization of the Month: Praxis Peace Institute

Cosimo would like to highlight the Praxis Peace Institute as our Organization of the Month for May.

Praxis Peace Institute, based in Sonomo, California, is a non-profit peace education organization dedicated to deep inquiry, creative problem solving, and informed civic participation. In bringing together leading educators, researches, activists, and elected representatives, Praxis Peace Institute has established itself as a vehicle for practical workshops, cutting-edge conferences, and civic education. Their goal is to understand the failed mechanisms of the old systems in order to nurture the visions and alternative structures that support the evolution of systemic peace, social justice, and responsible stewardship of our planet.

Since its founding in 2001, Praxis Peace Institute programs have addressed some of the most relevant social challenges of our time. These areas include communication and conflict transformation, inquiries into the effects of culture and propaganda, participatory democracy and peace building, solutions to species' extinctions, and the exploration of what an economic system that supported peace would look like.

Praxis Peace Institute Imprint
Another initiative by Praxis, was when it responded to the libertarian conspiracy film Thrive with a pamphlet titled "Uncivil Liberties: Deconstructing Libertarianism," in which it carefully and concisely laid out the problems inherent in libertarian philosophy and why it is so appealing to today's society. In order to broaden the reach of this pamphlet, Praxis made it into a full fledged book that was published by Praxis's own imprint,  established with the help of Cosimo B2B - see below -.  As we are approaching the congressional elections later this year, this book is a must-read for anyone invested in modern politics and the future of the United States. Uncivil Liberties is available from most online bookstores.

Upcoming Praxis Conference
What: The Economics of Sustainability - Emerging Models for a Healthy Planet
When: October 6-9, 2014
Where: Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA

About: This Praxis conference will showcase the economic and environmental models that have a proven track record in establishing a sustainable relationship with our planet and its inhabitants. Recognizing the severity of the environmental crises we face, the link between economics and environmental policies is a critical factor in achieving sustainable policies and lifestyles. For more information about the conference, panels, speakers, and how to register, please visit Praxis' events page.


Cosimo B2B
Cosimo B2B is Cosimo's services unit, that offers publishing services to organizations such as Praxis Peace Institute, who are considering setting up their own publishing company, in order to reach worldwide readership and enhance their brand name. We welcome those organizations and institutions that are aligned with Cosimo's mission of creating a smarter and more sustainable society by connecting people with valuable ideas. If your organization wants to know more about the benefits of having its own imprint and is interested in working with us to create such an imprint, please visit our private imprint page.

Sustainability Week NYC until May 17th

Environmental Economist Pamela Peeters, founder of Sustainable Styles, and friend of Cosimo, will be presenting the very first Sustainability Week NYC, held this week, through May 17th with the theme "legacy."

This event was created to invite and  inspire the public to take part in the development of a sustainable planet. Among the programmed activities are conferences with industry keynote speakers, Q&A sessions, a gala, a film festival, an art exhibit, an ethical fashion show, a Sustainable Planet TV cover, and many receptions and networking opportunities.

Most of the events are free to the public and the registered attendees will also receive a complimentary “every week can be earth week” workshop and an annual membership to the Sustainable Styles media magazine.

In addition, there will be a fundraising Sustainable Steward Gala, this Thursday May 15th held at Tesla Motors in NYC. Documentary film maker Susan Rockefeller will receive the Sustainable Steward Award during the gala. Tickets are  $100. If you would like to register for this or any of the events, please contact Pamela Peeters, the organizer of the program.

Among the sustainability mentors are: Rick Bell from the American Institute of Architects, Sass Brown from FIT, Nicolas Eisenberger from Pure Energy Partners, Nick Kumbatovic from Cameron Engineering, Amy Larkin; author of Environmental Debt and Tim Hayduk from the CFA Foundation, and many more.

For more information about the events and about sustainability, please visit Sustainable Planet.

May Classic of the Month: On Liberty by John Stuart Mill

Cosimo is putting the spotlight on worldwide politics with the May Classic of the Month, On Liberty by John Stuart Mill.


"No one can be a great thinker who does not recognise, that as a thinker it is his first duty to follow his intellect to whatever conclusions it may lead. Truth gains more even by the errors of one who, with due study and preparation, thinks for himself, than by the true opinions of those who only hold them because they do not suffer themselves to think."
       -John Stuart Mill, in On Liberty


Perhaps the greatest work from British political philosopher John Stuart Mill, On Liberty is one of the most profound and most hotly debated works of the 19th century. Is it a classic plea for human freedom and intellectual development... or is it factually wrong and morally offensive? With recent political upheaval in Ukraine and violent crimes in Syria, this book could not be more relevant to today's news and happenings. 

About the Author
English philosopher and politician John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was one of the foremost figures of Western intellectual thought in the late 19th century. He served as an administrator in the East Indian Company from 1823 to 1858, and as a member of parliament from 1865 to 1868. 

Cosimo is proud to offer both an affordable paperback and handsome hardcover edition of On Liberty at leading online bookstores including Barnes & Noble (paperback and hardcover), and Amazon (paperback, hardcover, and eBook).

May Series of the Month: The Works of Thomas Jefferson

Cosimo is celebrating one of our most influential American politicians with our May Series of the Month, The Works of Thomas Jefferson by Paul Leicester Ford.

 Few men stand with as towering a stature in the annals of American legend as Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). Author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States, he ranks as one of the most significant of the United States' Founding Fathers, his political philosophies continuing to impact the nation to this day. 

In the late 19th century American biographer Paul Leicester Ford (1865-1902) assembled this collection of Jefferson's most important, most influential, and most revealing writings. This replica of the 12-volume "Federal Edition" of 1904 is considered a masterpiece of historical scholarship, praised for its attention to detail as well as its objective dispassion toward its subject. 


Cosimo offers this 12 volume series by individual volume at leading online bookstores or as a full set in hardcover or paperback, especially of interest to politicians, collectors, who like to expand their personal library, or professional librarians. If you are interested in purchasing the full set, please contact us.

Discover:

• drafts of the Declaration of Independence 
• notes on rules for the Continental Congress 
• drafts of numerous bills 
• correspondence to George Washington 
• papers including "Opinion on Foreign Debt," "Report on Western Lands," 
• letters from 1789-1792 to such persons as James Madison, John Jay, Marquis De Lafayette, Colonel Henry Lee
• and much more!

The hardcover retail list price for this series: $359.88, but now:our price: $289.99  (you save $70 or a 20 percent discount)

The paperback retail list price for this series: $215.88, but now: our price: $169.99 (you save $46 or a 22 percent discount)

May Book of the Month: Uncivil Liberties

Uncivil Liberties: Deconstructing Libertarianism, edited by Georgia Kelly and with a Foreword from Hazel Henderson (founder of Ethical Markets Media), is Cosimo's Book of the Month for May. Uncivil Liberties is an expansion on a pamphlet released in 2012 from Praxis Peace Institute responding to the film Thrive. Contributors* from Praxis expound on the arguments made in the pamphlet, which carefully and concisely laid out the problems inherent in libertarian philosophy and why it is so appealing to today's society. Uncivil Liberties is essential reading for those invested in modern politics, and they will find that the book makes a compelling case against the tenants of libertarianism. By demonstrating the untruths promoted within libertarian culture, they outline how concerned citizens can avoid and refute common myths spread by extreme right-wing ideologies.

Hazel Henderson writes in the Foreword, "The authors of Uncivil Liberties de-mystify the social and cultural myths and religious beliefs that underpin the still prevailing economic fundamentalism that drove corporate executives, Wall Street traders, central bankers, and compliant politicians into denial... This book and the deeply insightful perspectives of its co-authors help us understand how all these travesties could have happened and why they are still occurring... I hope Uncivil Liberties reaches the widest possible audience... The world's people await our culture's maturation from adolescence to more responsible global citizenship--beyond individual human rights to our universal human responsibilities as in the Earth Charter--matching our new challenges in this Solar Age of the Anthropocene."


Uncivil Liberties is available from most online bookstores. Praxis Peace Institute is a non-profit peace education organization based in Sonoma, California, dedicated to deep inquiry, creative problem solving, and informed civic participation. Since its founding in 2001, Praxis Peace Institute programs have addressed the most relevant social challenges of our time, from communication and conflict transformation, to politics and propaganda, to the economy.



*Ben Boyce, Nick Colby, Gus diZerega, Julianne Maurseth, and Barry Spector