Recommendations from Webster Vienna

Recommended by Samuel R. Schubert, Webster Vienna Associate Director.

You are probably thinking, "OMG, what the heck is that? There is no way I will ever read a book about math."

In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if most of you eschewed any book that delves into quantum physics, climate models and the high-wire act of mathematical prediction.

Yet here’s the twist: Tim Palmer’s "The Primacy of Doubt" is exactly the book you should read if the prospect of advanced equations sends a twinge of dread down your spine. Palmer, a leading physicist and climate scientist, doesn’t just talk numbers — he beautifully explains how uncertainty is not a failure of understanding, but the core principle upon which we build meaningful understanding. If you ever suspected that the world is too intricate to boil down to simple theories or a single tidy equation, then this is a book to read – or at least two out of three parts.

In "The Primacy of Doubt," Palmer presents mathematics not as an isolated fortress of cryptic symbols, but as the universal language for comprehending systems that don’t come neatly packaged. Indeed, nature leans heavily on complexity. Just imagine those swirling eddies in your morning café, the spread of misinformation, or the global climate patterns shaping our future. Because no single solution can fully capture the complexity of a changing world, we must consider multiple plausible scenarios side-by-side — in essence, an ensemble of possibilities. We don’t just analyse a problem with one theory, but with as many as we can.

It helps that Palmer’s background is in weather and climate forecasting, fields where uncertainty is not just a theoretical construct but a daily operational reality. He masterfully illustrates the idea that to make better predictions about tomorrow’s storms, next season’s agricultural yields, or long-term climate shifts, we must first embrace the uncertainties swirling in these datasets. By weaving in examples drawn from his own experiences in meteorology and climate science, Palmer transforms the abstract notion of probabilistic modelling into something deeply human: the kind of understanding that helps guide policy, inform debate, and encourage us to safeguard our planet.

For students who might still be nursing old anxieties about math classes, what sets Palmer’s perspective apart is the clarity and familiarity he brings to complex ideas. He’s not here to test or trick you. Instead, he’s showing how the mind-set of considering multiple possibilities — an ensemble — can replace crippling dread with genuine curiosity.

When faced with uncertainty, do we throw up our hands or lean into it as a source of creative power? Palmer’s answer is unequivocal. We lean in. By doing so, we learn to read the subtle signals, to differentiate between what we know and what we don’t, and to appreciate the elegance of incomplete knowledge.

"The Primacy of Doubt" reminds us that nothing in our world — be it the global climate, the economy, or even the human heart — is perfectly predictable. And that’s not only fine, it’s productive because the strength of our insights doesn’t come from having conquered uncertainty, but from learning how to dance with it. In a world defined by the interplay of knowns and unknowns, this is a lesson worth embracing — one ensemble at a time.

Recommended by Mariya Mavrova, Webster Vienna HR Officer

My book recommendation is "Time Shelter" by Georgi Gospodinov, as translated into English by Angela Rodel.

First published in 2020 in the midst of the COVID pandemic, this book stole my mind. In 2023, "Time Shelter" won the Booker Prize.

It is a masterfully layered exploration of nostalgia, identity and memory. The story revolves around the creation of "clinics for the past," where rooms are designed to replicate specific decades, providing dementia patients with the comfort they need to return to their memories.

However, the clinic’s concept gains popularity and sparks a wider societal obsession with going back in time and history, it also leads to a Europe-wide referendum on the past ... a referendum on which decade each European country should "return" to and "freeze" there.

In Gospodinov's novel you will find humor, melancholy, philosophical depth, political satire, emotional resonance. It will make you think about the past, the present and the future. It will make you reflect on how the past shapes the present, and question the limits of nostalgia as both a refuge and a trap. Highly recommend.

Recommended by Dr. Franco Algieri, Associate Professor and Head of the WVPU International Relations Department.

The numerous works of the British author Norman Lewis often deal with his travel experiences in many parts of the world. During the Second World War he served in the British Army and took part in the Italian campaign as an intelligence officer. In this book he describes his time and experiences in and around Naples from September 1943 to October 1944. Written in a diary style it is a fascinating collection of observations of people, mentalities, hopes and despair.

Lewis shows a strong empathy for people affected by the consequences of conflict and war. More than just an impression of a bygone era, the book is as relevant as ever in today's conflict-ridden international environment.

Recommended by Stepan Eliseev, WVPU Admissions Officer.

I recommend “Factfulness” because this book helps us understand our place in the world and comprehend our planet better without being too negative and emotional about our prospects. The author genuinely believes in "the secret silent miracle of human progress" combining both practical and theoretical knowledge about our world. The book discusses various global demographic, economic, and global health issues. He is not trying to be an alarmist but uses a more considerate approach to global developmental issues.

The book is full of anecdotes and witty stories from Hans Rosling’s medical experience in different parts of the world. By reading this book you will learn how to reduce stress from the news using knowledge and awareness about global trends. The same way mindfulness can help manage stress, 'factfulness' offers a careful information processing method when it comes to media and striking global problems.

Recommended by Jaroslav Jorik, Advising and Enrollment Officer.

I recommend “Why We Sleep” because this book really shows how important sleep is in our lives, the consequences of not sleeping well or enough, and how our lives could improve by focusing more attention to forming better sleeping habits.

According to Goodreads, neuroscientist and sleep expert Matthew Walker provides a revolutionary exploration of sleep, examining how it affects every aspect of our physical and mental well-being. Charting cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, and including decades of research and clinical practice, Walker explains how we can harness sleep to improve learning, mood and energy levels, regulate hormones, prevent cancer, Alzheimer's and diabetes, slow the effects of aging and increase longevity. The author also provides actionable steps toward getting a better night's sleep every night.

For me personally, it has changed how I see the importance of sleep, and I am trying to follow the advice based on the latest scientific evidence.

Emil Martirosyan, WVPU adjunct faculty member, recommends "The Invincible Company: How to Constantly Reinvent Your Organization with Inspiration From the World's Best Business Models" by Alexander Osterwalder, Yves Pigneur, Frederic Etiemble and Alan Smith.

"The Invincible Company" is dedicated to the introduction a new value creative approach in business by building up the successful business models. The authors are emphasizing the importance of understanding the central and defining role of business models, which lets the companies to express their differentiation and uniqueness in the market.

The book's main idea is a direct dependency from the corporate successful dynamic in the market with the essence of its business model; the way the companies are generating positive financial and economic results. The word 'innovation' in this case can be applied not only to the product but to the business model as well.

Companies can produce and distribute products or services that are regular in the market but differently, which describes the business model specifics. One of the key and central parts of a business model should be its innovative asset as trademark, patented technology, know-how, goodwill, and so forth.

The book consists of five main components:

1. Business model explore and design.
2. Strategic guidance.
3. Business model Pattern
4. Business model pattern
5. The Culture Map and culture importance for the business model.

My favorite quote from the book is, “Innovation isn't just about technology; it's about designing the right business models for the future.”

"The New Map: Energy, Climate, and the Clash of Nations" by Daniel Yergin is recommended by WVPU Rector Johannes Pollak.

In 1992, author Daniel Yergin won the Pulitzer Prize for “The Prize,” a book that combines a riveting history of oil and gas exploration with the strategic interests and, sometimes, miscalculations of states and empires.

Many award-winning books later, “The New Map” analyzes the geopolitical conundrums revolving around the topic of energy production.

Structured around several maps, the author explores the strategic interests of the U.S., Russia, China, and the Middle East and connects it to the technological revolutions, as well as the looming climate catastrophe.

Yergin masterly connects the dots between an emerging geopolitical order and the quest for energy security. His grasp of the subject and the breadth of his analysis are simply stunning. The book makes for a thrilling read and helps the reader to better understand the pivotal role of energy with regard to national security.

Recommended by Marco Bocchese, Assistant Professor of International Relations at WVPU.

"The Trial of the Kaiser" by William A. Schabas is a compelling exploration of one of the most significant legal events of the 20th century.

Schabas examines the intricate legal proceedings that followed World War I, focusing on the controversial trial of Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Through rigorous analysis, Schabas sheds light on the complexities of international law, politics and justice in the aftermath of a global conflict.

This book offers invaluable insights into historical events that continue to shape our understanding of accountability and the pursuit of justice on a global scale. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of law, history and international relations.

Bradley E. Wiggins, Associate Professor and Department Head of Media Communications, recommends two books.

"Dune" by Frank Herbert (1965)

I read the "Dune" book several years ago. After seeing the recent films, I felt a need to revisit it.

The story takes place many years in the future, after "The Great Revolt" in which artificial intelligence and scientific thinking machines waged 100 years of war against humanity.

This is why you don’t see any computers in the films, no screens or the like. Just hand-held knobs and controls, plus human-powered or driven machines. I’d recommend "Dune" for these and many other points.

"The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder" by David Grann (2023)

The book’s focus is the story of HMS Wager, a square-rigged, sixth-rate Royal Navy ship, and the mutiny that took place after the ship's wreckage in 1741.

I’d recommend it as a compelling narrative very much lifted out of our modern digital- and social media-saturated lives.

Recommended by Prof. Dr. Armin Kammel, WVPU adjunct faculty member. Kammel is teaching business law, business ethics and corporate financial strategy.

The year 2024 marks the 16th anniversary of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2007-2008, which dramatically changed the regulatory environment of global financial markets since then. Massive regulatory intervention paved the way for the modern financial architecture, which has been designed to ensure the necessary stability of the global financial system.

Fast-forward to the first quarter of 2023: After the collapse of the FTX Trading Ltd. aka “Future Exchange,” a cryptocurrency exchange and crypto hedge fund in November 2022, the Silicon Valley Bank failed on 10 March 2023 followed by the collapse of the traditional Credit Suisse Bank and the rescue of First Republic Bank all happening during March 2023. Regulators, central banks, and experts were quick to stress that a GFC scenario as in 2007-2008 is very unlikely to happen again and probably the fast intervention and coordinated action contributed to somewhat calming down markets and avoiding the eruption of another (global) financial crisis.

Without wanting to analyze the regulatory and supervisory perspective on what has happened in March 2023, another key aspect had been convincingly laid out in the recent book “Games of Greed—Excess, Hubris, Fraud, and Theft on Main Street and Wall Street” by Torsten Dennin: greed.

The term greed is a phenomenon reflecting an uncontrolled longing for increase in the acquisition or use of material gain or social value has been considered as an undesirable pattern throughout human history, dating back to the works of Plato and Aristotle. However, although considered undesirable, we must acknowledge that greed (unfortunately often in combination with fear) is one of our strongest motivators in our decision-making processes.

This fact has been both comprehensively and convincingly underscored by Torsten Dennin in his newest book which connects the dots between Panama Papers, Bernie Madoff, Nick Leeson, Jéróme Kerviel, Elizabeth Holmes, the “Cryptokid” or Ruja Ignatova, aka “Cryptoqueen” by pointing out that all these first shiny than despised names can be associated with the as undesirable classified human behavior of greed.

Moreover, all these cases which ultimately lead to individual (rather seldomly collective) excess, hubris, fraudulent activities, or theft were driven by different shapes of greed. Moreover, another common denominator in all the different games of greed described by Torsten Dennin illustrate the catastrophic consequences in business and finance, typically hitting the unexperienced, less informed, and somewhat innocent or those acting in good faith.

Thus, the book “Games of Greed” is an entertaining eye-opener for all those wanting to gain both a better understanding of the financial scandals of the last century as well as to develop some sensors to better assess whether an extraordinary story may be too good to be true.

I read this book in fall 2023 and can highly recommend it as an entertaining, thought-provoking and easy to comprehend read which helps to better understand the different shapes of greed, human behavior and also the weaknesses of (financial) regulation.

Recommended by Nermin Podzic, WVPU Head of Marketing and Communication.

"Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic" by Chalmers Johnson is a deep dive into a topic I'm passionate about — American history.

It's a real eye-opener as it delves into the challenges the United States faces globally. Johnson's insights into the complex web of American military power, how it affects our domestic politics, and the erosion of democratic values are genuinely captivating. Once you start reading, you won't want to put it down until you've devoured every page.

With his meticulous research and critical perspective, Johnson paints a vivid picture of the perils of unchecked militarism and imperialism.

The book encourages us to look hard at our nation's policies and priorities. In today's world, it offers a timely and essential perspective on the American republic's challenges. If you care about the future of our democracy, this book is a must-read about the future of democracy in the United States.