Krzysztof Puławski Book order (chronological)

This dramatic narrative follows a prominent tech venture capitalist who, once a mentor to Mark Zuckerberg and an investor in Facebook, becomes alarmed by the platform's detrimental impact on society and decides to take action. Just three years prior, he would have laughed at the idea of dedicating himself to preventing Facebook from undermining democracy. Proud of his early involvement with Zuckerberg, he had every reason to remain optimistic until the reality of the situation became undeniable. The author recounts his awakening to the manipulation of Facebook by malicious actors and the unsettling realization that Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg either could not or would not acknowledge these concerns. The unfolding events of Brexit and the election of Donald Trump, coupled with alarming news about Facebook's misuse, deepen his disillusionment. Despite being a large shareholder, he finds Facebook's leadership dismissive, treating the issue as merely a public relations challenge. Alienated, he collaborates with like-minded individuals and a team of Silicon Valley technologists to confront the existential threat posed by Facebook and the broader attention economy. This account serves as both a personal journey and a critical examination of a business sector detached from accountability during a time of political and cultural crisis, offering a vital perspective on the urgent issues at hand.

Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the uncanny bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a cult-classic book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies alone on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get: Her mother is stolen away―by a figure who claims to come from the Hinterland, the cruel supernatural world where her grandmother's stories are set. Alice's only lead is the message her mother left behind: “Stay away from the Hazel Wood.” Alice has long steered clear of her grandmother’s cultish fans. But now she has no choice but to ally with classmate Ellery Finch, a Hinterland superfan who may have his own reasons for wanting to help her. To retrieve her mother, Alice must venture first to the Hazel Wood, then into the world where her grandmother's tales began―and where she might find out how her own story went so wrong.