The Chris Voss Show

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