Books with author Mark Ford

What will the economy of the future look like?Where will advancing technology, job automation, outsourcing and globalization lead?Is it possible that accelerating computer technology was a primary cause of the current global economic crisis—and that even more disruptive impacts lie ahead?This groundbreaking book by a Silicon Valley computer engineer and entrepreneur explores these questions and shows how accelerating technology is likely to have a highly disruptive influence on our economy in the near future—and may well already be a significant factor in the current global crisis.THE LIGHTS IN THE TUNNEL employs a powerful thought experiment to explore the economy of the future. An imaginary "tunnel of lights" is used to visualize the economic implications of the new technologies that are likely to appear in the coming years and decades. The book directly challenges nearly all conventional views of the future and illuminates the danger that lies ahead if we do not plan for the impact of rapidly advancing technology. It also offers unique insights into how technology will intertwine with globalization to shape the twenty-first century and explores ways in which the economic realities of the future might be leveraged to drive prosperity and to address global challenges such as poverty and climate change.

Fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and The Mysterious Benedict Society will race through this exciting adventure about an orphan, his unusual friends, and the power of imagination. What if everything you imagined could become real? It all starts when Professor Eisenstone, scientist and inventor, creates a box that’s supposed to turn whatever you imagine into reality. There’s only one problem: he can’t get it to work. Until Tim shows up. An orphan with an especially keen imagination, Tim brings to life Phil, an eloquent finger monkey with a dry sense of humor. Tim and Professor Eisenstone work in secret to make the box more powerful. But when Eisenstone is kidnapped along with his contraption, Tim, Phil, and the professor’s granddaughter, Dee, must find the criminals before they use the box to turn their imagined evil into something all too real. Creating a miniature monkey is all well and good. But in order to rescue his friend, Tim will have to face his darkest fears and unleash the true potential of his own mind.“A splendid adventure, hilarious and harrowing in turn and so strongly cast that even the precocious pocket primate doesn't steal the show.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review"With a solid mystery, fantastic device, warm friendships, a funny monkey, and heartening conclusion, this has a heaping serving of middle-grade antics."-Booklist“The Imagination Box is children’s fiction in the classic mode, with double-crosses, deceitful adults and narrow escapes all meshing into a solid mystery plot…and a timeless be-careful-what-you-wish-for message.”—Financial Times (UK)

What will the economy of the future look like? Where will advancing technology, job automation, outsourcing and globalization lead? This groundbreaking book by a Silicon Valley computer engineer explores these questions and shows how accelerating technology is likely to have a highly disruptive influence on our economy in the near future--and may well already be a significant factor in the current global crisis. THE LIGHTS IN THE TUNNEL employs a powerful thought experiment to explore the economy of the future. An imaginary "tunnel of lights" is used to visualize the economic implications of the new technologies that are likely to appear in the coming years and decades. The book directly challenges conventional views of the future and illuminates the danger that lies ahead if we do not plan for the impact of rapidly advancing technology. It also shows how the economic realities of the future might offer solutions to issues such as poverty and climate change.

Fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and The Mysterious Benedict Society will race through this exciting adventure about an orphan, his unusual friends, and the power of imagination. What if everything you imagined could become real? It all starts when Professor Eisenstone, scientist and inventor, creates a box that’s supposed to turn whatever you imagine into reality. There’s only one problem: he can’t get it to work. Until Tim shows up. An orphan with an especially keen imagination, Tim brings to life Phil, an eloquent finger monkey with a dry sense of humor. Tim and Professor Eisenstone work in secret to make the box more powerful. But when Eisenstone is kidnapped along with his contraption, Tim, Phil, and the professor’s granddaughter, Dee, must find the criminals before they use the box to turn their imagined evil into something all too real. Creating a miniature monkey is all well and good. But in order to rescue his friend, Tim will have to face his darkest fears and unleash the true potential of his own mind.“A splendid adventure, hilarious and harrowing in turn and so strongly cast that even the precocious pocket primate doesn't steal the show.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review"With a solid mystery, fantastic device, warm friendships, a funny monkey, and heartening conclusion, this has a heaping serving of middle-grade antics."-Booklist“The Imagination Box is children’s fiction in the classic mode, with double-crosses, deceitful adults and narrow escapes all meshing into a solid mystery plot…and a timeless be-careful-what-you-wish-for message.”—Financial Times (UK)

Sir Frederick wants to mind his own business. His sister Gertie wants to mind everyone else’s, plunging them both into a bubbling stew of archaeologists, imposters and hoodlums, each plotting to take control of the Animal Kingdom. A frog could get hurt.According to legend, all creatures once lived in harmony until some 7500 years ago when the human Pharaoh destroyed the ruling Council of Animal Elders. Legions of civilized Animals retreated into a world apart from humans, hoping someday to regain power - a hope all but buried by the sands of time. In Egypt of 1939, the discovery of a papyrus kicks up that sand, creating an uproar that Sir Frederick would prefer to ignore. Gertie, however, an aspiring newspaper reporter, is not about to let this story get away. All too familiar with her talent for trouble, Sir Frederick follows her propelling them both into an adventure whose final solution reveals an ancient treachery that has affected the lives of all living things forever after.Imagine The Wind in the Willows co-authored by P. G. Wodehouse and Terry Pratchett, and you will have Bug Eyes and the Sacred Scrolls.

There is a box. Anything you imagine will appear inside. You have one go, one chance to create anything you want. What would you pick?"That's exactly the question ten-year-old Timothy Hart gets to answer after discovering The Imagination Box. The greatest toy on earth.The top-secret contraption transforms his life but when the box's inventor, Professor Eisenstone, goes missing, Tim knows he has to investigate.With the help of a talking finger monkey called Phil, he sets out to find the professor. In order to rescue his friend, he must face his darkest fears and discover the true potential of his own mind.This stunning debut is first in an exciting new trilogy for readers aged 9+.

Timothy Hart is getting used to the good life with his new imagination box. Anything he can imagine, he can create! There's only one rule - the box mustn't leave Tim's room.But Tim has never been good at following rules - especially when there's the opportunity to 'imagine' his homework into being without actually having to do it. Tim is feeling rather pleased with himself...Until he notices the strange people following him, and then chasing him, and then his beloved imagination box being ripped from his hands.He'll need the help of a top secret scientific institution if he's going to save the imagination box from corruption of the worst possible kind.Sequel to the critically acclaimed debut, The Imagination Box.

There was a sabre-toothed tiger in the playground. Wandering thoughts, Tim had come to realise, were extremely dangerous things.Nearly a year has passed since Tim, Dee and Phil the finger monkey (with the help of some fire-breathing bear-sharks) defeated Wilde Tech Inc and destroyed the imagination space. But since then, it's become increasingly clear that there's something wrong with Tim. His imagination seems limitless - anything he imagines immediately appears in front of him, with no need for the imagination box. Which has both good and bad consequences.Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changes. Tim wakes up and discovers he's in his old orphanage. No one, not even Dee, knows who he is. He's completely alone - his worst nightmare. But soon he realises who is to blame. His old enemy, Clarice Crowfield, has hijacked a new, all-powerful machine and created a reality where she is in charge! Tim must find Professor Eisenstone, convince Dee that they really are best friends (and, of course, recreate Phil) - then literally put their world to rights.

When Chester discovers he can mind jump, his sister Amy wastes no time in putting his new skills to work boosting the viewing figures on her video blog. And when a TV company takes them global, he does his most daring mind jump yet, into the brain of Tito the gorilla. The trouble is, when he tries to return to his own body - it's gone!Has it been stolen? But who would want it, and why? And how come Chester suddenly has the urge to search Amy's hair for fleas? The quest to find the answers takes him on a journey beyond his wildest imagination.A fast-paced, mind-boggling and hilarious yet thought-provoking read from the author of The Imagination Box series.

Fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and The Mysterious Benedict Society will race through this exciting adventure and sequel to The Imagination Box about an orphan, his unusual friends, and the power of imagination. Timothy Hart is getting used to the good life with his new Imagination Box. Anything he can imagine, he can create! There’s only one rule: the Box must not leave Tim’s room at the hotel where he lives. But Tim has never been good at following rules—especially when there’s the opportunity to “imagine” his homework into being without actually having to do it. Tim is feeling pretty good. . . . Until he notices the strange people following him, and then chasing him, and then his beloved Imagination Box being ripped from his hands. He’ll need the help of a Top-Secret Scientific Institution—and of course, his friend Dee and his talking finger monkey, Phil—if he’s going to save the Imagination Box from corruption of the worst possible kind. Praise for The Imagination Box: “A splendid adventure, hilarious and harrowing in turn and so strongly cast that even the precocious pocket primate doesn't steal the show.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review "With a solid mystery, fantastic device, warm friendships, a funny monkey, and heartening conclusion, this has a heaping serving of middle-grade antics."-Booklist “The Imagination Box is children’s fiction in the classic mode, with double-crosses, deceitful adults and narrow escapes all meshing into a solid mystery plot…and a timeless be-careful-what-you-wish-for message.”—Financial Times (UK)

Fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and The Mysterious Benedict Society will race through this exciting adventure and sequel to The Imagination Box about an orphan, his unusual friends, and the power of imagination. Timothy Hart is getting used to the good life with his new Imagination Box. Anything he can imagine, he can create! There’s only one rule: the Box must not leave Tim’s room at the hotel where he lives. But Tim has never been good at following rules—especially when there’s the opportunity to “imagine” his homework into being without actually having to do it. Tim is feeling pretty good. . . . Until he notices the strange people following him, and then chasing him, and then his beloved Imagination Box being ripped from his hands. He’ll need the help of a Top-Secret Scientific Institution—and of course, his friend Dee and his talking finger monkey, Phil—if he’s going to save the Imagination Box from corruption of the worst possible kind. Praise for The Imagination Box: “A splendid adventure, hilarious and harrowing in turn and so strongly cast that even the precocious pocket primate doesn't steal the show.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review "With a solid mystery, fantastic device, warm friendships, a funny monkey, and heartening conclusion, this has a heaping serving of middle-grade antics."-Booklist “The Imagination Box is children’s fiction in the classic mode, with double-crosses, deceitful adults and narrow escapes all meshing into a solid mystery plot…and a timeless be-careful-what-you-wish-for message.”—Financial Times (UK)

Chester Parsons has discovered he can mind jump! He just needs to really concentrate and suddenly he is inside the body of another person, but more fun than this, another animal... And it's just what his aspiring YouTuber sister needs to boost her viewing numbers. Suddenly Chester is an social media sensation.So it's with the whole world watching that Chester does his best mind jump yet... into the body of Tito the Gorilla. Only, when it comes to jumping back into his own body, he can't. It's been stolen! Who could want it, and why? Perhaps an ancient order of mind jumpers, the nefarious "Star Swimmers", would be a good place to start looking... Hilarious, fast-paced and propelled forward by the high stakes of what to do when your body is missing and your mind is dissolving into a gorilla's, an unmissable standalone from the author of THE IMAGINATION BOX.