READ THE BEST OF IDEAS

The central idea in Kim Vicente’s The Human Factor is that what we really need is technology that works for people. In this fascinating book he shows a world full of machines that invite human error — and he offers solutions that could have enormous implications for human life. This groundbreaking work is sure to create much public debate.		In The Trouble With Islam, an open letter to Muslims and non-Muslims alike, Irshad Manji breaks the conspicuous silence that surrounds mainstream Islam with a series of pointed questions. Not one to be satisfied with merely criticizing, she offers a practical vision of how Islam can undergo a reformation that empowers women, promotes respect for religious minorities and fosters a competition of ideas. Join the discussion at www.muslim-refusenik.com.
			John Nadler has written a real-life Romeo and Juliet story set in wartorn Kosovo. Searching for Sofia is a Balkan odyssey, a quest through dangerous terrain for an ever-elusive goal, a campaign for justice and ultimately, an exploration through the eyes of its victims of the madness of internecine war.
	At the core of Under the Banner of Heaven is an appalling double murder committed by a pair of Mormon fundamentalist brothers, Ron and Dan Lafferty. What John Krakauer constructs is a multi-layered, bone-chilling narrative of messianic delusion, savage violence, and unyielding faith.
			In The Pig Who Sang to the Moon we are shown that barnyard animals have emotional lives. Jeffrey Masson, the author of Dogs Never Lie About Love, reveals startling evidence that these animals have complex feelings, among them love, loyalty, friendship and sadness. Masson bears witness to the emotions and intelligence of these remarkable animals, each an individual with distinct qualities.