这部著作以社会经济、文化为背景，比较全面地论述世界各主要文字体系的产生和发展以及它们之间的相互关系，从语言特点等方面谈到文字的类型学和分类学上的一些问题以及文字史学界在这方面的不同观点，阐述人文科学各学科与文字及其发展历史的相互影响和相互关系。作者运用科学的方法论比较正确地分析文字产生的原因和发展途径，描述从远古图画文字到现今许多文字体系的发展过程，同时还对文字发展的前景做了探索。

Mitochondria are tiny structures located inside our cells that carry out the essential task of producing energy for the cell. They are found in all complex living things, and in that sense, they are fundamental for driving complex life on the planet. But there is much more to them than that. Mitochondria have their own DNA, with their own small collection of genes, separate from those in the cell nucleus. It is thought that they were once bacteria living independent lives. Their enslavement within the larger cell was a turning point in the evolution of life, enabling the development of complex organisms and, closely related, the origin of two sexes. Unlike the DNA in the nucleus, mitochondrial DNA is passed down exclusively (or almost exclusively) via the female line. That's why it has been used by some researchers to trace human ancestry daughter-to-mother, to 'Mitochondrial Eve'. Mitochondria give us important information about our evolutionary history. And that's not all. Mitochondrial genes mutate much faster than those in the nucleus because of the free radicals produced in their energy-generating role.This high mutation rate lies behind our ageing and certain congenital diseases. The latest research suggests that mitochondria play a key role in degenerative diseases such as cancer, through their involvement in precipitating cell suicide. Mitochondria, then, are pivotal in power, sex, and suicide. In this fascinating and thought-provoking book, Nick Lane brings together the latest research findings in this exciting field to show how our growing understanding of mitochondria is shedding light on how complex life evolved, why sex arose (why don't we just bud?), and why we age and die. This understanding is of fundamental importance, both in understanding how we and all other complex life came to be, but also in order to be able to control our own illnesses, and delay our degeneration and death. 'An extraordinary account of groundbreaking modern science...The book abounds with interesting and important ideas.' Mark Ridley, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford

《地缘政治学：国际关系的地理学（第2版）》是一本最好的地缘政治学专著。地缘政治学是关于世界主要地区政治地理变动的事实知识，包括它们在历史上以及当前的相互关系，它是一种全景式的世界观察。在索尔·伯纳德·科恩的地缘政治学中，均衡，而不是转变，才是治国策略的一目的。最深刻的是，科恩暗示，在全球化的时代，战略与经济相互依赖程度的增长为已经是(或者可能成为)大国冲突地带的地缘政治区或破碎地带提供了一个机会，使后者成为潜在的一体化区或门户区。为此，将需要具有想象力的外交方式。索尔·伯纳德·科恩深邃的地缘政治智慧为其学说提供了坚固的知识基础。