In this selection are five unusual books that came out in this equally unusual year. It’s unlikely that these books would have appeared at any other time, but that’s what makes them interesting. Sometimes it’s helpful to look at the world in a different way-it allows you to find solutions that wouldn’t have even occurred to you before, but that can take your life to a whole new, renewed level.

1. “The Virus That Broke the Planet,” by Irina Yakutenko

The pandemic has revealed many “white spots” in our medical and biological knowledge, but at the same time it has also been a spur to the development of science. Researchers have already gathered a lot of information about the coronavirus. This allows ordinary people to reduce the risks of becoming infected and allows doctors to prevent serious consequences for patients.

This book helps you understand in detail all the relevant aspects about coronavirus. In our review, we look at the issues that have become the most pressing as of late 2020: how the human immune system fights coronavirus and how to create the optimal vaccine.

2. “The Case Against Reality: How Evolution Hides the Truth from Us,” by Donald Hoffman

Our perception of the world is imperfect and relative: as far back as Plato said that the so-called real objects we see are nothing but shadows of higher ideas, and later Kant drew a distinction between “things in themselves” and their reflection in our perception. And yet, for most of us, such theories look like the product of a rather disconnected imagination. So it is particularly interesting what science has to say in their favor.

American scientist Donald Hoffman, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has collected arguments from both the natural and exact sciences. Hoffman adheres to the theory of “conscious realism”–he believes that the foundation of reality is not matter but consciousness.

3. “The Pandemic Through the Eyes of Italians. The World is Changing,” by Luigi Angelino

The book was published in Turin on March 19, 2020. It was not published in Russian. The author of the book, Luigi Angelino, lawyer, criminalist, international law specialist and writer, told us what is really going on in Italy: what people care about most, what values have come to the forefront, which have only now become clearly visible.

4. “Never look for a ‘real’ job: how to stop working ‘for an uncle,’ start your own business and not go bankrupt,” Scott Gerber

“When are you going to get a real job?” – is the question mothers and grandmothers like to ask today’s young people. It’s easy to understand: the life experience of the older generation tells us that a job is the only reliable source of income and a guarantee of social assistance. However, times are changing. Today, working with a work record book does not allow you to seriously count on even getting a pension in the future. It is better for young people if they start to adjust to the new reality, where they have to take care of themselves.

Author Scott Gerber, a young self-taught serial entrepreneur, challenges the social conventions upon which the belief in “real” work is based and shares his experience of how to take control of life. You will not read this book in Russian, but thanks to our review you will have access to the author’s main ideas, tips and recommendations.

5. “How Coronavirus, Robots, and Artificial Intelligence Are Changing the Way We Work,” by Matrix Thompson

A global quarantine hits our wallet and forces us to think about how we can generate backup income. This will help you cope with a temporary lack of money and strengthen your financial position in the long run. We suggest that you start exploring alternative sources of income right now, as described by the author of the book – Internet entrepreneur and experienced consultant Matrix Thompson.