The Chris Voss Show Podcast – I Am Machine: Life Without Free Will by Lex Van Der Ploeg, Raymond Van Aalst

I Am Machine: Life Without Free Will by Lex Van Der Ploeg, Raymond Van Aalst https://www.amazon.com/Am-Machine-Life-Without-Free/dp/1955026629 I Am Machine is an intriguing exploration of what it means to be human–and whether we truly have free will. This thought-provoking narrative will ignite your imagination while causing you to question what drives your own actions and decisions. Whether you’re interested in philosophy and science fiction or simply curious about the human experience, I Am Machine will engage your brain in a way unlike any other book in your personal library. Written from the perspective of an alien visitor to Earth named Ramona Black Hole, I Am Machine rationalizes human existence in the context of a universe filled with life. Throughout the book, Ramona, leader of the globular cluster Messier 13 galactic exploration team, describes life on Earth in the context of her prior planetary experiences, including those with other extraterrestrials she’s encountered. Although Ramona isn’t human, she has a lot of the same questions about life that humans have grappled with since their evolution on Earth. What does it mean to be alive? How much control do we truly have over our lives? What else is out there? Are there parallel universes and alternative realities that we aren’t aware of? Just what is possible in infinite space? Ramona has traveled broadly in our galaxy, the Milky Way, and shares her hypotheses about life and free will, but it’s up to you to decide what you think the universe holds. About the author Lex Van der Ploeg’s philosophical interests addressing life in our universe and collaboration with co-author Raymond Van Aalst, inspired the publications of “I Am Machine” and “God’s Retirement”. Having worked as a tenured faculty member at Columbia University and subsequently in leadership roles in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, Lex’s expertise includes an active interest in teaching and training colleagues, development of diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic disorders, and infectious diseases. Lex received numerous grants and awards for his research and has broadly published on his research in peer reviewed journals.

Rate by Donna Gene Stankey, Ramona Hammel https://www.amazon.com/Rate-Donna-Gene-Stankey/dp/1958920010 On this wintry December night in 1893, Millie had lots of time to think. His wife, Mina, was with child; and tonight, looked like the baby would arrive. His first child was a girl named Blanche, who was four years old. He was truly hoping for a boy, even knowing that Mina and Blanche both wanted a girl. Millie had thought back to the time when he and his family came to Michigan from Canada in the late 1870s. He reminisced about events and adventures this move had brought. He loved life on the farm. To him it was a very rewarding life. He hoped to be able to pass this passion he had for farming on to a son. He had dreamed of being married and having children. He remembered how his pa and ma favored his sister over him and his brother. He never wanted to do that to his children when he had them. He thought how nice it would be to have a son to carry on the family name. A son to help on the farm and eventually inherit it. A son would just make him feel complete as a man. Then came the words. “It’s a boy!” Millie heaved a heavy sigh. A son! He couldn’t wait to see him. He would call him Rate to honor his dad. Now he could look forward to this new chapter in his life. Only time would tell how this chapter would unfold.

Emu on the Loose: Awakening Strength, Embracing Life by Dr Zanyk https://www.amazon.com/Emu-Loose-Awakening-Strength-Embracing/dp/1968519459 https://zaneez.com/ https://anklestone.com/ When an ordinary trail walk turns into an unforgettable encounter, Mimi and her children come face to face with an unexpected escapee-an emu on the run. What unfolds is a whimsical and heartwarming adventure that reveals powerful truths about courage, creativity, and the unshakable spirit of freedom within us all. Based on real events and reimagined with fantastical flair, Emu on the Loose is more than a children’s story-it’s a cross-generational celebration of possibility and empowerment. With charming prose and bold illustrations, this debut in the Mimi Adventure Series reminds us that greatness can be found in everyday moments-and that even the most surprising events can lead us back to our own inner strength.

The Adversary (The Tier One Thrillers) by Brian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson https://www.amazon.com/Adversary-Tier-One-Thrillers/dp/B0F95HK4D2 From New York Times bestselling authors Andrews & Wilson, The Adversary is the next heart-stopping installment in the Tier One series. For John Dempsey, it’s a time of uncertainty. As a new administration tries to piece together who was behind the assassination of an American president, task force Ember is a team without a target. Newly Minted POTUS, Kelso Jarvis, is haunted by strange dreams of a house on fire, and Dempsey’s son Jake–who has begun his own journey as a SEAL–can’t escape the ghost of the father he believes to be dead. But when a routine intelligence gathering mission in Taiwan goes horribly wrong and one of Ember’s own is captured, Dempsey’s frustration only grows. As Ember races to rescue their teammate before it’s too late, three of America’s strongest warriors–Dempsey, Jarvis, and Jake–must ask themselves if tomorrow’s adversary resides across the Taiwan Strait, or within themselves. About the author Brian is a US Navy veteran, nuclear engineer, and former submarine officer. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in psychology, holds a Master’s in business from Cornell, and is a Park Leadership Fellow. He is a principal contributor at Career Authors, a site dedicated to advancing the careers of aspiring and published writers: www.careerauthors.com.

From Ashes to Ascent “A Story of Strength, Survival, and Unshakeable Hope”: Volume I Born to Fight and Win! by Amy Granit https://www.amazon.com/Ashes-Ascent-Strength-Survival-Unshakeable/dp/1326371096 Marabay.net VOLUME I “Born to Fight and Win!”A child of war. A mother’s pain. A daughter’s courage. Volume I of From Ashes to Ascent reveals Mara’s earliest years—years shaped by the shadows of World War II and the unforgiving realities of a devastated Soviet Union. Born as bombs fell and fathers disappeared, Mara grows up in poverty-stricken barracks, surrounded by hunger, cold, and cruelty. Her mother, broken by grief and loss, becomes both caregiver and tormentor—leaving Mara to navigate a childhood marked by fear, confusion, and emotional isolation. Yet beneath her frail exterior lives a fighter. Whether standing up to her mother’s violence, facing the brutal cold of Kazakhstan winters, or carving out moments of joy amid deprivation, Mara discovers her inner strength long before she understands its meaning. In this gripping and emotional first volume, Amy Granit paints a vivid portrait of a girl growing up in a world where survival is an act of defiance—and hope is a victory in itself. Themes: • Post-war trauma • Childhood resilience • Soviet history & village life • Abuse, healing, and identity • The will to rise above one’s circumstances

The Rise to Power (Revised Edition) (The Legacy Series, 1) by David Francis Cook https://www.amazon.com/stores/David-Francis-Cook/author/B0C7XFH46F Get ready for the heart-pounding thrills of The Legacy Series – a captivating adventure that combines the best of The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure. Follow James Bannerman throughout history as he seeks to answer those driving questions: “Why are we here?” and “What is our purpose?” If a family can respect its heritage and forefathers, any member can rise to greatness. But the evils of human nature and temptations of life must first be overcome. In The Rise to Power, the first book in The Legacy Series, Cartius, who lives in the previous age of Atlantis, faces a dire choice. He can go with his father to a different star system and continue his way of life at an even higher level of dimension—or he can choose to die, reincarnate, and save his planet. James Bannerman, Tenth Earl of Penbroke, England, is Cartius. Before his death, Cartius makes the fateful decision to remain on Earth. He also leaves his teleportation chair to a faithful servant, and the chair makes its way, under lock and key, to its place as a regal throne in the East Wing of Bannerman’s estate. The decisions Bannerman must face—in a world intertwined with marriage, love affairs, human intrigue, and deception—will define his future. And that of many. A family can become a small nation, then a large nation, and then a great nation with a great legacy. But first it must uncover its true spiritual knowledge. James Bannerman will find the key to that lies in the throne. Along with determining their legacy, Bannerman and his family—whose roots go back to 1704—will also unlock the question man has wrestled with since his earliest beginnings: Why are we here?

The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else’s Game by C. Thi Nguyen https://www.amazon.com/Score-Stop-Playing-Somebody-Elses/dp/0593655656 A philosophy of games to help us win back control over what we value The philosopher C. Thi Nguyen—one of the leading experts on the philosophy of games and the philosophy of data—takes us deep into the heart of games, and into the depths of bureaucracy, to see how scoring systems shape our desires. Games are the most important art form of our era. They embody the spirit of free play. They show us the subtle beauty of action everywhere in life in video games, sports, and boardgames—but also cooking, gardening, fly-fishing, and running. They remind us that it isn’t always about outcomes, but about how glorious it feels to be doing the thing. And the scoring systems help get us there, by giving us new goals to try on. Scoring systems are also at the center of our corporations and bureaucracies—in the form of metrics and rankings. They tell us exactly how to measure our success. They encourage us to outsource our values to an external authority. And they push on us to value simple, countable things. Metrics don’t capture what really matters; they only capture what’s easy to measure. The price of that clarity is our independence. The Score asks us is this the game you really want to be playing?

Healing Through Soul Intelligence® by Kristine Genovese Soulintelligencemethod.com https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DQD628KS In Healing Through Soul Intelligence®, Kristine Genovese reveals a revolutionary approach to healing that taps into the deepest levels of our being. Drawing on her experience in corporate America and spiritual growth, Genovese introduces readers to the SOUL INTELLIGENCE® Method —a bioenergetic system that bridges science and spirituality to address the root causes of physical, emotional, and energetic imbalances. Genovese explores the power of emotions, the mind-body connection, and the hidden forces that shape our lives through a combination of quantum physics, bioenergetics, and practical exercises. Readers will discover how to access and align with their own SOUL INTELLIGENCE®, a higher state of awareness that illuminates their purpose and activates profound healing. Whether you’re a healthcare practitioner looking to enhance your practice, a leader seeking alignment in life and work, or someone on a personal healing journey, this book provides tools, techniques, and insights that transform and empower. With chapters on consciousness, energetic clearing, and the future of healing, Healing Through Soul Intelligence® is more than a guide —it’s an invitation to evolve and thrive.

Innovation Is NOTHING Without Courage to Unleash It: Entrepreneurial Empowerment Strategies and Secrets for Success by Dr Marien J Zanyk https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-NOTHING-Without-Courage-Unleash/dp/196298768X https://zaneez.com/ https://anklestone.com/ Step into the extraordinary world of Dr. Zanyk – entrepreneur, orthopedic expert and innovator, – and discover the blueprint for entrepreneurial success. In Innovation is Nothing Without Courage to Unleash It, Dr. Zanyk reveals how perseverance, creativity and humor transformed her vision into a thriving venture. As the founder of ZANEEZ(R) She revolutionized orthopedic solutions with products AnkleSTONE(R) and BedROK(R). Her Journey is a testament to turning bold ideas into reality, offering valuable lessons for entrepreneurs, and anyone ready to reach their full potential.

A Time Like No Other: My Journey 1946-1967 by Ken Rand Kenrand.net https://www.amazon.com/Time-Like-No-Other-1946-1947/dp/1969865504 Historians have labeled the 50s and 60s as a ‘time of innocence, and many feel it was the greatest generation. In the early 50s, we witnessed the birth of television (in black and white). And it was live TV, where the unpredictable could-and would-happen. People felt safe, and it wasn’t unusual for them to leave their cars and front doors unlocked. In the 50s and 60s, we did not have cell phones or computers for texting and email. We communicated by talking to each other (sometimes for hours) and we wrote ‘hand-written’ letters; imagine that. Things were so different then. Milk and meat tasted different, and even tap water tasted better, (bottled water? What’s that?), It was also a time when women’s rights and the civil rights movement gained momentum. The world was beginning to change. I have two goals in writing this book. One is to share my personal life journey and memories with you, and the other is to provide you with a picture of what was happening in the world, especially in the United States, at that time. You will soon draw your own conclusions about whether the time in which we baby boomers were brought up was truly “A Time Like No Other.” If you were born in the 50s or 60s, I know you will cherish this journey and my personal stories. If you weren’t, then sit back, relax, read, and enjoy what you’ve missed. Put on your seatbelts. About the author Ken Rand is an award-winning math instructor who retired in 2015 after forty-seven years of teaching. His teaching experiences include a variety of educational levels, beginning with JHS in the Bronx, New York, and then HS in White Plains, New York, and then two- and four-year colleges in California. Known for his classroom story-telling technique, Ken has found a way to bring those classic stories to life in his Amazon bestselling book, One Student at a Time: A Teacher’s Journey. He is also writing a follow-up book with co-author Kim Thomas titled One Teacher at a Time: Teach-Inspire-Change.