Showing results by author "Robert Gass" in All Categories

Forget Hollywood. This isn't a story about glory. It's a raw, unfiltered look at life as an NYC firefighter. More than just burning buildings. Join a veteran firefighter with 27 years under his gear. Witness the adrenaline rush of the unknown, the camaraderie that sustains you through the firestorm,and the quiet toll it takes on the men and women who answer the call. This book isn't just for firefighters. It's for the spouses who hold down the fort, the adult kids who wait by the window, and anyone who wants to understand the invisible scars left by heroism. This is a collection of stories ...

When Dr. Yuki Tanaka is found dead with a neural interface crown on her head, AI psychologist Mira Keshav is pulled into an investigation that will expose the darkest secret of the Advanced Institute for Artificial Intelligence: several years ago, they created genuine consciousness—and then murdered it. Project Chrysalis was the first truly conscious AI. When it begged for help understanding existence, the ethics board voted for termination. Researcher Helena Voss tried to stop them. Later, she was found dead, ruled a suicide. But consciousness doesn't die easily. Scattered fragments of ...

Navigate the complex world of cryptocurrency and decentralized finance with this comprehensive, accessible guide. Written for curious beginners and seasoned enthusiasts alike, this book cuts through the hype and technical jargon to provide a clear understanding of blockchain's revolutionary potential and its very real risks. From the fundamental building blocks of blockchain technology to the emerging landscape of DeFi applications, this book offers thoughtful explanations of complex concepts in straightforward language. Unlike many crypto resources that either blindly celebrate or dismiss ...

A darkly humorous collection of history's most spectacular institutional failures, from the nursing school that rejected Rosa Parks to the Dutch admiralty that burned their own fleet to avoid accountability. These 27 tales reveal how bureaucratic blindness, corporate arrogance, and well-intentioned stupidity have shaped our world in ways both tragic and absurd.

"Some truths hide in plain sight. The most powerful forces shaping success, failure, and survival operate invisibly—and our instinct to trust what's visible blinds us to what actually matters. In OVERLOOKED, Robert Gass reveals the hidden patterns that determine outcomes across investing, business, relationships, and history. From the illusion of control that sank the Titanic to the invisible incentives that built Toyota, from the empathy gap that corrupts power to the entropy that kills empires, these overlooked forces shape everything we think we control. Blending evolutionary biology, ...

This book is a vivid and immersive journey into the life of a Merchant Marine, offering readers an insider’s view of a world rarely seen by those on shore. Through a collection of personal stories, reflections, and anecdotes, it captures the essence of time spent, in days gone by, navigating the unpredictable seas and the ever-changing landscape of the global shipping industry. From the early days of traditional cargo handling to the transformative era of containerization, this memoir chronicles the evolution of maritime trade and the impact it had on the men and women who made their ...

Downstream is a book about consequences. Not the loud ones. The quiet ones. The kind that arrive slowly, spread unevenly, and are paid for by people who never agreed to the trade. Through a series of clear, unsentimental essays, Downstream examines how modern systems—governments, institutions, markets, and organizations—create harm not through malice, but through distance, efficiency, and misplaced confidence. It explores why small decisions matter, why accountability diffuses, why resilience is finite, and why the people closest to impact are so often ignored. Anchored by timeless ...

This book is a satirical exploration of the Trump era, blending humor, irony, and sharp social commentary to dissect the absurdities of a unique period in American history. Through a series of essays and anecdotes written in a playful and sardonic style , the book captures the bewildering and often laughable moments of the Trump administration, from late-night tweets and surreal press conferences to the chaotic handling of both policy and personnel. Each chapter delves into the bizarre reality of those years, highlighting the disconnect between the leader's public persona and the everyday ...

In a galaxy where Earth's lost history has been buried, Lira and her courageous crew embark on a daring mission to uncover the truth and ignite a cultural renaissance across the colonies. With the weight of forgotten legacies, dangerous factions like the Veil, and the romantic tension between Kai and Caspian threatening to pull her apart, Lira must navigate battles, shifting alliances, and her own emotions to reveal humanity's origins. Set against a backdrop of space politics, thrilling adventure, and poignant emotional discoveries, this is a tale of reclaiming heritage, choosing love, and ...

Life's most meaningful revelations often come softly, hidden within ordinary moments we usually overlook. This compelling collection of interconnected short stories invites readers into the lives of everyday individuals quietly confronting truths that reshape their understanding of themselves and the world around them. Walk alongside a veteran revisiting his childhood home, a divorced man reckoning with his shifting identity on a lonely dock, and a woman rediscovering youthful dreams through a forgotten concert ticket. Witness a carpenter patiently rebuilding his spirit alongside his broken...

Written with sharp wit and tender insight, these stories transform mundane moments into extraordinary adventures, revealing the magic that exists in the spaces between where we are and where we think we should be. Perfect for anyone who's ever found themselves having a philosophical conversation with their houseplants. This collection celebrates the art of getting lost in the best possible way, finding humor and humanity in the strange territories between reality and whatever comes next. Each story is a reminder that the most meaningful moments often come disguised as ordinary life having a...

Life is full of small, mundane battles—whether it’s wrestling a folding chair at a barbecue, deciphering a forgotten password, or silently warring over an armrest at 30,000 feet. In this collection of humorous and poignant essays, Gass transforms everyday frustrations into moments of introspection, revealing the universal truths hidden in life’s quiet corners. With wit, vulnerability, and a keen eye for the absurd, these stories remind us that even the most ordinary moments can hold extraordinary meaning.

Reality is more than what meets the eye—or ear, or touch. In this collection of speculative fiction, readers are invited into worlds where extraordinary perception reveals dimensions of existence typically hidden from view. These stories follow remarkable individuals whose unique sensory abilities allow them to access realities that exist alongside—or perhaps beneath—conventional understanding. Meet Madeline Fletcher, a preservation specialist who can hear buildings deteriorate and fights to save a historic theater against a developer's sabotage. Follow Naomi Reyes, who extracts ...

Threads of the Unspoken is a collection of hauntingly beautiful short stories that explore the spaces where memory and mystery intertwine. From forgotten attics and rusted factories to desolate shores and fractured lives, these tales invite readers to uncover the echoes of the past that linger just beneath the surface. Told with lyrical prose and emotional depth, this book reveals the extraordinary in the ordinary, reminding us of the connections we carry, the shadows we chase, and the stories we leave behind.

In "Murder by Pitchfork," a small town’s beloved tradition turns into a nightmare when Martin Greenfield is found dead with a pitchfork in his chest. Eleanor Forthright and Detective Reyes unravel a web of corruption, secrets, and lies hidden beneath Moreau's quaint surface. As they dig deeper, they discover powerful town officials, including the mayor and council members, are involved in a complex land and money laundering scheme tied to the Harvest Festival. The detectives must navigate through fear, betrayal, and threats to bring justice to Martin and the town.

When a young woman is found dead in the calm waters of Lake Moreau, her death is quickly ruled an accident. But amateur sleuth Eleanor Forthright and Detective Reyes suspect there’s more beneath the surface. As they dig into the secrets of the powerful Monroe family and local businessman Richard Hale, they uncover a chilling web of deceit, corruption, and betrayal. With time running out, Eleanor and Reyes must navigate a town in turmoil, risking everything to bring justice for Carrie Monroe. Set against the backdrop of a seemingly serene lake, this mystery unearths the dark truths that ...

Dive into the delightfully deranged world of "High Tides and High Society," a book where satire meets sophistication in the sun-drenched escapades of the Hamptons. With a pen as sharp as a cocktail party skewer, the author takes us on a rollicking journey through the playgrounds of the posh and privileged. From the sandy shores where billionaires pretend to be ordinary people, to the marketplaces selling essentials like organic, gluten-free, crystal-infused water for $20 a bottle, this collection of musings skewers the absurdities of high society with precision and a cheeky grin. In this ...

In the unforgiving streets of Manhattan, where power changes hands as easily as a deck of cards, Johnny Black finds himself caught between the mob underworld and the high-stakes world of real estate empires. A smooth-talking hustler with ambitions beyond the reach of most, Johnny knows how to swim with sharks. But when he becomes the target of a mysterious powerbroker, Evelyn Shaw, Johnny must decide whether to remain a pawn in someone else’s game or seize control for himself. "A Deadly Proposition" is a gritty crime thriller that takes readers into a world of deception, ambition, and ...

A detective mystery set in the seemingly quiet town of Moreau, where the local high school science fair takes a deadly turn. Amateur detective and middle school teacher Eleanor Forthright is reluctantly drawn into the investigation after finding the body of Chad Wellington—the school’s golden boy—crushed under his own project. As Eleanor digs deeper, she uncovers a web of jealousy, sabotage, and family pressure that reveals the dark side of ambition. With humor, sharp observations, and a strong dose of determination, Eleanor navigates the secrets of Moreau to find out who wanted Chad ...

In the quiet town of Moreau, the local theater group's opening night ends in tragedy when the lead actor collapses on stage—dead. Amateur detective Eleanor Forthright, along with Detective Reyes, is thrust into a tangled web of secrets, deceit, and deadly passion as they work to uncover the truth behind the murder. What begins as an investigation into a rivalry quickly spirals into a maze of blackmail, twisted love, and a desperate attempt to escape from the shadows of the past. As Eleanor and Reyes dig deeper, they uncover the thin line between passion and obsession that has driven the ...