A Path Less Conventional

The term Silk Road has been well-known for many years, but in fact this ancient trade route was not a singular path from East to West. Rather, it was a network of multiple ways that peoples, goods, and cultures spread across the Asian continent and beyond. This book focuses on the Steppe Silk Road, starting with the Hulunbuir Grasslands in today’s Steppe, which stretches through several countries from the Danube to the Ural River.The result of the author’s extensive travels through China, Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, and more, this travelogue presents modern-day experiences together with ancient history. It explores how civilizations of the steppe grasslands evolved over time from a Chinese perspective, along with personal anecdotes and scenic highlights from various trips over the past 47 years. The book provides a window into less-visited regions suitable for intrepid explorers and armchair travelers alike.

Wisdom means learning to live with ambivalence and to embrace uncertaintyHelga Nowotny’s memoir provides a detailed account of her life, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of a woman who defied convention in the male-dominated field of science. From her early days in science and technology studies, where she faced bureaucratic hurdles, to her influential role in shaping the European Research Council, Nowotny offers a candid look at her career. She shares personal stories of navigating the complexities of academia and policy, revealing the uncertainties and contingencies that shaped her life and work. This memoir resonates with anyone who has pursued a path less traveled, and offers a glimpse into the resilience and ambition required to succeed in challenging environments.Future Needs Wisdom is not really a memoir, nor is it an intellectual history, nor is it entirely a personalreflection or a summative philosophy. It is, in fact, all of these things fused together: her life, her