Richard Powers Books

In some respects, Richard Powers's The Time of Our Singing is just a big, absorbing drama about an American family, with the typical ingredients of an immigrant parent and some social obstacles--in this case, a biracial marriage in the Civil Rights era--to be overcome by the talented children. But Powers's lyrical gifts lift this material far above its familiar subject matter. His descriptions of music alone will transport the reader. The Strom family were raised with this common language: "Our parents' Crazed Quotations game played on the notion that every moment's tune had all history's music box for its counterpoint. On any evening in Hamilton Heights, we could jump from organum to atonality without any hint of all the centuries that had died fiery deaths between them." The central figure of this novel is the dazzling Jonah, who makes a life from singing, and who may be the only person around him who regards his racial heritage as irrelevant to his ambitions. Powers's is such a fertile writer, however, that he can't stay with any single story, but plunges into pages and pages of family and social histories. The result is a rambling, resonant, fearless novel that pulls the reader along in its wake. --Regina Marler

Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2024, the book explores profound themes of identity and belonging through the lives of its richly developed characters. Set against a backdrop of societal change, it delves into their personal struggles and triumphs, weaving a narrative that challenges conventional perspectives. The author’s evocative prose and intricate storytelling invite readers to reflect on the complexities of human experience, making it a compelling addition to contemporary literature.

From the National Book Award-winning author of "The Echo Maker" comes a playful and provocative novel about the discovery of the happiness gene. Funny, fast, and finally magical, "Generosity" celebrates both science and the freed imagination.

The Overstory, winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, is a sweeping, impassioned work of activism and resistance that is also a stunning evocation of--and paean to--the natural world. From the roots to the crown and back to the seeds, Richard Powers's twelfth novel unfolds in concentric rings of interlocking fables that range from antebellum New York to the late twentieth-century Timber Wars of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. There is a world alongside ours--vast, slow, interconnected, resourceful, magnificently inventive, and almost invisible to us. This is the story of a handful of people who learn how to see that world and who are drawn up into its unfolding catastrophe.

An enthralling story about desire, new love and the mysteries of science from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Overstory Stuart Ressler, a brilliant biologist, sets out in 1957 to crack the genetic code. His efforts are sidetracked by other, more intractable codes - social, moral, musical, spiritual - and he falls in love with a member of his research team. Years later, another young man and woman team up to investigate a different mystery - why did the eminently promising Ressler suddenly disappear from the world of science? Strand by strand, these two love stories twist about each other in a double helix of desire. 'A love story of charm and substance, brimming over with ideas, yet anchored in emotional truth' Sunday Telegraph

Eddie Hobson is quickly succumbing to a mysterious illness, and his children draw on the World War II veteran's dictaphone-recorded construction of an imaginary utopia for clues to their father's illness.

How to create your own contemporary interior: the ultimate resource for design-conscious living, from architecture to materials to furniture and decorative objects. This ambitious book is all about clean lines, elegant color combinations, maximizing indoor–outdoor relationships, artfully collecting and displaying objects, and utilizing open areas for lounging, cooking, and dining. Whether the living space is large or small, anyone can create a modern interior. Hundreds of photographs reveal stylish residences around the world, in particular from places where modern living has achieved its best expression, such as California, Brazil, Scandinavia, and Australia, but also from places where modern forms have been fused with vernacular styles or set against exotic vegetation. From desert to jungle, from city to country, Living Modern offers a boundless resource for achieving a personal vision of contemporary stylishness.

When Chicagoan Russell Stone begins teaching a Creative Nonfiction class, he is captivated by Thassadit Amzwar, a young Algerian woman whose radiant joy contrasts sharply with his own melancholic nature. Russell is perplexed by her ability to remain happy despite being a refugee from a war-torn country. Concerned for her safety, he delves into research about her homeland and explores happiness manuals, questioning whether her state might be hyperthymia or hypomania. His inquiries lead him to college counselor Candace Weld, who also becomes enchanted by Thassa, known as Miss Generosity among her peers. The attention of the controversial geneticist Thomas Kurton shifts to Thassa when he announces a genotype linked to happiness. As Russell and Candace, now a couple, struggle to protect Thassa from the media frenzy, her innate optimism faces severe challenges. Thassa becomes a living symbol of hope, and her genetic secret has profound implications for Russell, Kurton, and society. The narrative raises critical questions about the intersection of science and human emotion: What happens when happiness is genetically defined? Who controls this knowledge? With humor and magic, the story invites readers to reflect on the implications of altering our own natures in pursuit of happiness.

"Dazzling and audacious. . . Nothing short of astounding." --Philadelphia Inquirer The critically acclaimed debut novel from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Overstory and the forthcoming Bewilderment. "A writer of blistering intellect . . . [Powers is] a novelist of ideas and a novelist of witness, and in both respects, he has few American peers." -- Richard Eder, Los Angeles Times In the spring of 1914, renowned photographer August Sander took a photograph of three young men on their way to a country dance. This haunting image, capturing the last moments of innocence on the brink of World War I, provides the central focus of Powers's brilliant and compelling novel. As the fate of the three farmers is chronicled, two contemporary stories unfold. The young narrator becomes obsessed with the photo, while Peter Mays, a computer writer in Boston, discovers he has a personal link with it. The three stories connect in a surprising way and offer the reader a glimpse into a mystery that spans a century of brutality and progress.

"A heartrending new novel from the Pulitzer Prize-winning and #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Overstory. "Richard Powers, whose novels combine the wonders of science with the marvels of art, astonishes us in different ways with each new book." -Heller McAlpin, NPR Books. The astrobiologist Theo Byrne searches for life throughout the cosmos while single-handedly raising his unusual nine-year-old, Robin, following the death of his wife. Robin is a warm, kind boy who spends hours painting elaborate pictures of endangered animals. He's also about to be expelled from third grade for smashing his friend in the face. As his son grows more troubled, Theo hopes to keep him off psychoactive drugs. He learns of an experimental neurofeedback treatment to bolster Robin's emotional control, one that involves training the boy on the recorded patterns of his mother's brain. . . . With its soaring descriptions of the natural world, its tantalizing vision of life beyond, and its account of a father and son's ferocious love, Bewilderment marks Richard Powers's most intimate and moving novel. At its heart lies the question: How can we tell our children the truth about this beautiful, imperiled planet?"-- Provided by publisher

The second is that of a contemporary woman, living in the company town, who during the course of the novel is diagnosed and then finally dies of cancer, a cancer that is almost certainly caused by exposure to chemical wastes from the company's factories. schovat popis

In the spring of 1914, renowned photographer August Sander took a photograph of three young men on their way to a country dance. This haunting image, capturing the last moments of innocence on the brink of World War I, provides the central focus of Powers’s brilliant and compelling novel. As the fate of the three farmers is chronicled, two contemporary stories unfold. The young narrator becomes obsessed with the photo, while Peter Mays, a computer writer in Boston, discovers he has a personal link with it. The three stories connect in a surprising way and provide the reader with a mystery that spans a century of brutality and progress.

After several years abroad, novelist Richard Powers -- the fictional protagonist of the story -- returns to America and accepts the position of Humanist-in-Residence at the enormous and prestigious Center for the Study of Advanced Sciences. There, he meets Philip Lentz, an outspoken neurologist intent on creating a model of the human brain with computer-based neural networks, and together they embark on an outlandishly ambitious project -- to teach the neural net English literature so that it can pass a difficult master's exam. As their experiment progresses, their brain-child absorbs more and more information, gradually becoming increasingly worldly. Soon, it demands to know its name, sex, race and reason for existing. Meanwhile, this literary crash course sparks in Powers a parallel awakening, and he begins a reconsideration of his chosen profession, his decade-long, failed relationship with a former pupil and his obsession with the master's candidate against whom his cybernetic pupil is slated to compete."A splendid intellectual adventure, a heartbreaking love story, a brief tutorial on cognitive science, and the autobiography of one of the most gifted writers of the younger generation." "--Washington Post Book World"

Imagine what a dictionary might look like about thirty years hence, when all of the world's problems are solved and our current dictionaries are a distant memory. Dave Eggers, Jonathan Safran Foer and Nicole Krauss have lined up an incredible array of writers to bring you that futuristic dictionary and a vision of the world as it might be. Think of it as a dictionary of language for describing what the future could look like a dictionary that is both useful and romantic, hopeful and necessary, pragmatic and idealistic, and frequently funny. This is science fiction but with a difference.

A thrilling novel that explores private fears, public hysteria and the art of music, by one of America's most important living writers - longisted for the 2014 Booker Prize, the Folio Prize and the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

In a digital lab on Puget Sound, virtual reality researchers race to complete the Cavern, a versatile space that can transform into anything from a jungle to a cathedral. Meanwhile, in a war-torn Mediterranean city, an American is held hostage in a stark white room. The connection between these seemingly disparate locations lies in the shared imagination, a space they unknowingly create together, where their stories converge. Adie Klarpol, a talented but disillusioned artist, finds new life in the innovative technology of the Cavern. As she grapples with the collapse of Cold War empires and her ex-husband's impending death, she immerses herself in the cyber-realities she is tasked with creating, seeking refuge from a chaotic world. Across the globe, Taimur Martin, an English teacher escaping a failed romance, is captured by Islamic fundamentalists in Beirut and faces solitary confinement. Stripped of distractions and hope, he clings to his memories to maintain his sanity. Each day in captivity pushes him closer to the brink, and the unexpected arrival of sanctuary becomes his lifeline. This narrative delves into the dual nature of imagination, highlighting its potential to both devastate and redeem.

National Book Award Finalist From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Overstory and the forthcoming Bewilderment, an exquisitely rendered novel set in the pediatrics ward of a public hospital that examines the power, joy, and anguish of storytelling. "If you have children or will have children, if you know children or can remember being a child, dare to read Operation Wandering Soul. . . [it] is bedtime reading for the future." --USA Today In the pediatrics ward of a public hospital in the heart of Los Angeles, a group of sick children is gathering. Surrogate parents to this band of stray kids, resident Richard Kraft and therapist Linda Espera are charged with keeping the group alive on make-believe alone. Determined to give hope where there is none, the adults spin a desperate anthology of stories that promise restoration and escape. But the inevitable is foreshadowed in the faces they've grown to love, and ultimately Richard and Linda must return to forgotten chapters in their own lives in order to make sense of the conclusion drawing near.

On a remote Nebraska road, 27-year-old Mark Schluter flips his truck in a near-fatal accident. His older sister Karin returns reluctantly to their hometown to nurse Mark back from a traumatic head injury. When he emerges from a protracted coma, Mark believes that this woman--who looks, acts, and sounds just like his sister--is really an identical impostor.

This compact, much-praised volume presents over one hundred of the most significant interiors from the twentieth century to the present day. An essential resource for interior design enthusiasts. Featuring one hundred of the most spectacular interiors across the world, this richly illustrated overview spans the entire twentieth century to the present day and includes interiors assembled by leading artists, fashion designers, architects, and interior and set designers. Bringing together diverse design talents, from Piero Fornasetti and Coco Chanel to Alvar Aalto, Marc Newson, and Matthew Williamson, this expanded edition of The Iconic Interior also features three new interiors from Los Angeles–based Commune Design, Morocco-based tile designers Samuel and Caitlin Dowe-Sandes, and Dimore Studio’s London house interior for the owners of fashion design studio Dsquared2. The book also features a list of designer biographies and key works, making this a complete resource for designers and students. Representing every style, from minimalism and art nouveau to neotraditional and Gesamtkunstwerk creations that defy definition, these iconic interiors are sure to inspire all audiences, from designers and students to homeowners and DIY enthusiasts.

Now available in an updated edition and attractive new format, this essential book on modern architecture presents over one hundred of the most significant houses of the past hundred years. The Iconic House features over one hundred of the most important and influential houses designed and built since 1900. With seminal works by Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Mies van der Rohe, as well as modern-day greats like Tadao Ando, Rem Koolhaas, and Herzog & de Meuron, this book brings to life a stunning array of architectural masterpieces. Wide-ranging in both geographical scope and artistic style, the houses share an appreciation of local materials and building traditions and a careful understanding of clients’ needs. Each house, however, is the result of a unique approach that makes it groundbreaking for its time. Now, fully updated, the book features iconic houses recently constructed, as well as concise, informative texts, specially commissioned photographs, floor plans, and drawings. The Iconic House remains an ideal overview of contemporary architects and architecture, for design-lovers and professionals alike.

Wir schauen in unsere Gene wie in die Kristallkugel der Wahrheit. Alles glauben wir dort zu erkennen. Aber wir zahlen einen Preis. Die Angst vor einer angeborenen Neigung zu Depression oder Alzheimer würde unser Leben vergiften. Keine Zukunft, die wir in den Genen lesen, kann dies wettmachen. Richard Powers arbeitete an seinem Roman über das »Glücks-Gen«, als er die Chance erhielt, der neunte Mensch auf der Erde zu werden, dessen Genom vollständig entschlüsselt wird. Er zögerte lange, aber die Neugier siegte. Powers flog nach Boston, traf die Forscher und Macher der neuen Industrie, lernte den komplizierten Prozess der Entschlüsselung kennen. Schließlich hielt er einen USB-Stick in Händen mit der Wahrheit. Näher kam noch nie ein Schriftsteller dieser Welt, und genauer konnte uns noch nie jemand davon erzählen, wie wir in Zukunft mit unseren Genen leben.

Auf der Insel Makatea treffen vier Menschen zusammen, deren Schicksale mit dem Planeten verknüpft sind. Evelyne taucht in die Ozeane, Ina sucht Materialien für Skulpturen, während Rafi und Todd eine neue Welt erschaffen wollen. Richard Powers thematisiert die Klimakrise und die Hoffnung auf Künstliche Intelligenz in einem bewegenden Epos.

Voller Spannung, Kunst und Gefühl erzählt Richard Powers von dem Komponisten und Musikgelehrten Peter Els und seinem Vorhaben, den Grundlagen des Lebens, der DNA, ihre Musik abzulauschen. In sein Labor, in dem er mit Molekülen komponieren will, stolpert die Homeland Security und zwingt ihn zur Flucht. Auf einer Fahrt quer durch die USA erinnert er sein Leben und sucht seine Familie – und versucht, aus dem katastrophalen Zusammenstoß mit den Sicherheitskräften doch etwas zu schaffen, das die Menschen innehalten und auf die Klänge und Töne um sie herum aufmerksam werden lässt.

Eine junge Frau in Chicago, die vor Glück nur so strahlt. Sie lebt völlig ohne Zorn, alle Freunde und Bekannte kreisen nur um sie. Doch sie stammt aus Algerien, einem Hexenkessel aus Gewalt und Gegengewalt, dem sie nur knapp entging. Kennt sie das Geheimnis des Glücks, besitzt sie gar das \"Glücks-Gen\"? Laboratorien und Fernsehshows reißen sich um sie, ein Karussell, das sich immer schneller dreht, bis sie alles zu verlieren droht. Meisterhaft ist Richard Powers ein großer Roman gelungen über die Frage, was unser Leben bestimmt die Sterne, die Eltern, oder liegt alles in den Genen? Mit einer zärtlichen Liebesgeschichte sucht er die Antwort: Greift die Zukunft nach uns oder wir nach der Zukunft?

Sur une route du Nebraska, Mark Schulter est victime d'un grave accident de voiture. A son réveil, après un profond coma, il reconnaît tous ses proches, sauf Karine, sa sœur aînée. Déboussolée, meurtrie, celle-ci fait alors appel à Gerald Weber, un célèbre neurologue. Le diagnostic est sans appel, Mark est atteint du rarissime syndrome de Capgras : il considère Karin comme une pâle imitation de sa sœur, une usurpatrice. Tandis que Weber étudie son cas, Mark tente de reconstituer ce qui s'est vraiment passé la fameuse nuit de l'accident, et de démasquer ce témoin anonyme qui lui a sauvé la vie avant de disparaître en laissant un étrange message. Ce qu'il découvrira va bouleverser à jamais sa vie et celle des siens...

In great condition. No tears.