f complex

The title is, at first glance, enigmatic. Clue: it concerns men and women-their most concrete, amorous, and sexual relations in everyday life, as well as in their dreams and fantasies. It has nothing to do with what biology studies under the heading of sexuality, of course. Must we leave this field to poetry, novels, and ideologies? Lacan attempts to provide a logic for it here-one that is quite cunning. In the sexual realm, it is not enough to be; one must also exhibit. That is true of animals. Ethology has detailed the display behavior that precedes and conditions mating: it is, as a rule, the male who signals his intentions to a potential partner by exhibiting shapes, colors, and postures. These imaginary signifiers constitute what we call semblance. Similar exhibitions have been noted in human beings, and have served as grist for satire. In order to serve as grist for science, we must clearly distinguish them from the real that they veil and manifest at the same time-that of jouissance. The latter is not the same for both sexes. Difficult to locate in women-and in fact, diffuse and unsituable-the real at stake for men is coordinated with a major semblance: the phallus. The upshot being that, as opposed to what commonsense would have us believe, men are slaves of the semblance they prop up, whereas, women are freer in this regard, and are also closer to the ℜ and that if a man is to sexually encounter a woman, he must put semblance to the test of the real, which is tantamount for him to the "moment of truth"; and that, if the phallus is suitable for signifying man as such-"every man"-feminine jouissance, because it is "not wholly" taken up in semblance, constitutes an objection to the universal. A logic is, therefore, possible, if one has the audacity to write the phallic function as follows, F(x), and to formalize the two distinct ways in which a subject can be sexualized by inscribing himself in that function as a variable. This approach requires us to go beyond the myths invented by Freud, those of the Oedipus complex and of the father of the primal horde (Totem and Taboo); to mobilize Aristotle, Peirce, and the theory of quantification; and to elucidate the true nature of writing, including both Chinese and Japanese. At the end of this trajectory, the reader will know how to elucidate Lacan's aphorism, "There's no such thing as a sexual relationship."-Jacques-Alain Miller

Discover why women experience burnout differently than men - and the empowering, science-backed guide to minimize stress, end the cycle of overwhelm, and live a more joyful life. 'A total game-changer.' Brené Brown, PhD, bestselling author of Dare to Lead and Rising Strong The gap between what it's really like to be a woman and what the world expects women to be is overwhelming and, so often, we exhaust ourselves trying to close that gap. How can you love your body when everything around you tells you you're inadequate? How do you 'lean in' at work when you're already giving 110% and still not recognised? How can you live happily and healthily in a world that constantly tells you you're too much - or not enough? In their ground-breaking book Burnout, sisters Emily Nagoski, PhD, bestselling author of Come as You Are, and Amelia Nagoski, DMA, offer an accessible, science-based approach to stress management and women's wellbeing. They explain why burnout happens, and how to recover, reset, and prevent it. With insights from the latest research, practical advice, and simple exercises, Burnout reveals: How to complete the biological stress cycle and return your body to a state of calm How to manage the 'monitor' in your brain that regulates frustration and emotional stress How the Bikini Industrial Complex undermines body image, and how to resist it Why rest, connection, and working with your inner critic are essential for recovery and long-term wellbeing Eye-opening and compassionate, Burnout transforms the way we understand stress, mental health, and self-care for women. It offers a clear, practical path to feeling better, building resilience, and creating a more balanced, joyful life. All women will find something transformative in these pages - and be empowered to create positive and lasting change. Praise for Burnout: 'The gold standard of self-help books , delivering cutting-edge science with energy, empathy, and wit.' Sarah Knight, bestselling author of Calm the F*** Down 'Groundbreaking and practical and, unlike most books on the subject, grounded in thorough research.' Sunday Times Style 'Not just another self help book... turns our struggle with stress on its head' Sarah Wilson, bestselling author of First, We Make the Beast Beautiful 'Their compassionate, science-based advice on how to release it made me cry with gratitude and relief. The book is that revolutionary' Peggy Orenstein, author of Girls & Sex

"Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer." -Silerian Proverb For a thousand years, fire and water have fought for ascendancy in Sileria, the mountainous island nation wherein dwells Dar, the destroyer goddess. The Guardians, Sileria's mysterious ghost-talking fire sorcerers have been enemies for centuries with the powerful waterlords of the Honored Society. Now, as the conquering Valdani empire spirals into defeat in Sileria, ancient rivalries are rekindled, and Sileria plunges into the inferno of civil war. When mystical sea spirits, a volcano goddess, and half-human subterranean sorcerers all demand a stake in Sileria's fate, then Mirabar, the fire-eyed prophetess, and Tansen, the reluctant new leader of the mountain rebels, are torn between love and duty. Now everyone in Sileria, allies and enemies alike, must choose between history and destiny-and must fight for victory or face annihilation. * The second book of the critically acclaimed epic fantasy trilogy which began with In Legend Born and concludes with The Destroyer Goddess * Year's Best list, Publisher's Weekly * Year's Best list, Voya * Best Epic Fantasy, Romantic Times Magazine "A suspenseful mix of vague prophecies, startling revelations, constantly shifting loyalties, and the occasional divine intervention, this stunning novel tantalizes right up to the last cliffhanger page." -[starred review] Publisher's Weekly "Vivid descriptions, three-dimensional characters, and a story filled with echoes of a distant past make this a stand-out addition to a fantasy series that belongs in most libraries. Highly recommended."-Library Journal "We are drawn ever deeper into her complex and interesting created world... There's violence and humor and mystery and surprises and plenty of action..." -SF Chronicle "Resnick has complete control of her craft. Not a word is wasted. Still, it's not a light read. The characters are complicated and real. There are plenty of twists and surprises, and the pace quickens as you go. Resnick's world is dangerous and exciting, yet it has a history and many hidden facets." -Cincinnati Enquirer "Atmospheric world-building, dry humor, and appealing characters make The White Dragon an epic fantasy not to be missed."-Romantic Times About the Author Laura Resnick is the author of the popular Esther Diamond urban fantasy series. She has also written traditional fantasy novels such as In Legend Born, The Destroyer Goddess, and The White Dragon, which made the "Year's Best" list of Publishers Weekly. An opinion columnist, frequent public speaker, and the Campbell Award-winning author of many sf/f short stories, she is on the Web at LauraResnick.com.

HISTORY / EGYPT "Contains a wealth of data and invaluable references not easily encountered elsewhere. Malkowski makes otherwise daunting technical information accessible and readable. I enjoyed this book thoroughly." --John Anthony West, author of Serpent in the Sky: The High Wisdom of Ancient Egypt "Ed Malkowski has presented a concise digest of modern research on the early origins of human civilization. His insights regarding the emergence of Cro-Magnon man alone are worth the price of the book!" --Christopher Dunn, author of The Giza Power Plant: Technologies of Ancient Egypt In the late nineteenth century, French explorer Augustus Le Plongeon, after years of research in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, concluded that the Mayan and Egyptian civilizations were related--as remnants of a once greater and highly sophisticated culture. The discoveries of modern researchers over the last two decades now support this once derided speculation with evidence revealing that the Sphinx is thousands of years older than Egyptologists have claimed, that the Great Pyramid was not a tomb but a geomechanical power plant, and that the megaliths of the Nabta Playa reveal complex astronomical star maps that existed 4,000 years before conventional historians deemed such knowledge possible. Much of the past support for prehistoric civilization has relied on esoteric traditions and mythic narrative. Using hard scientific evidence from the fields of archaeology, genetics, engineering, and geology, as well as sacred and religious texts, Malkowski shows that these mythic narratives are based on actual events and that a highly sophisticated civilization did once exist prior to those of Egypt and Sumer. Tying its cataclysmic fall to the mysterious disappearance of Cro-Magnon culture, Before the Pharaohs offers a compelling new view of humanity's past. EDWARD F. MALKOWSKI is a software developer and historical researcher with particular interest in how religious texts may serve as eyewitness accounts to historical events. The author of Sons of God--Daughters of Men, he lives in Champaign, Illinois.

The acclaimed author of Founding Gardeners reveals the forgotten life of Alexander von Humboldt, the visionary German naturalist whose ideas changed the way we see the natural world-and in the process created modern environmentalism. NATIONAL BEST SELLER One of the New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, The James Wright Award for Nature Writing, the Costa Biography Award, the Royal Geographic Society's Ness Award, the Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award Finalist for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, the Royal Society Science Book Prize, the Kirkus Prize Prize for Nonfiction, the Independent Bookshop Week Book Award A Best Book of the Year: The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Economist, Nature, Jezebel, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, New Scientist, The Independent, The Telegraph, The Sunday Times, The Evening Standard, The Spectator Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was the most famous scientist of his age, a visionary German naturalist and polymath whose discoveries forever changed the way we understand the natural world. Among his most revolutionary ideas was a radical conception of nature as a complex and interconnected global force that does not exist for the use of humankind alone. In North America, Humboldt's name still graces towns, counties, parks, bays, lakes, mountains, and a river. And yet the man has been all but forgotten. In this illuminating biography, Andrea Wulf brings Humboldt's extraordinary life back into focus: his prediction of human-induced climate change; his daring expeditions to the highest peaks of South America and to the anthrax-infected steppes of Siberia; his relationships with iconic figures, including Simón Bolívar and Thomas Jefferson; and the lasting influence of his writings on Darwin, Wordsworth, Goethe, Muir, Thoreau, and many others. Brilliantly researched and stunningly written, The Invention of Nature reveals the myriad ways in which Humboldt's ideas form the foundation of modern environmentalism-and reminds us why they are as prescient and vital as ever.

The must-have cookbook from the iconic restaurant, revealing never-before-published recipes. "Vibrant photography . . . as satisfying to flip through as it is to cook from ." -New York Times "For any cook or foodie, having access to these recipes is almost unfair." -Richard Blais, winner, Top Chef All-Stars "A cultural chronicle of both cuisine and the immigrant experience in America." - Vogue From a six-seat stall to a global culinary phenomenon, Xi'an Famous Foods has brought the complex, explosive flavors of Xi'an, China, and the province of Shaanxi to the New York City spotlight-and now to your kitchen. The foods of Xi'an, the ancient capital of China and the eastern starting point of the Silk Road, are defined by a unique blend of Middle Eastern and Chinese flavors. Think hand-ripped, chewy biang-biang noodles, cumin-laced lamb, fiery chili oil, and savory rougamo (Chinese burgers). In this long-awaited debut cookbook, founder Jason Wang and his father, David Shi, share their family's story of immigrant success and the recipes that built their culinary empire. This book dives into the region's culinary history alongside 75 recipes for signature dishes, including: The iconic Spicy Cumin Lamb Hand-Ripped Noodles The fragrant, peppery Spicy and Sour Lamb Soup Crispy, savory Stuffed Flatbreads (Roujiamo) Simple, foundational recipes for making their essential chili oil , versatile broths, and, of course, their perfect hand-ripped noodles from scratch. This is more than a cookbook; it's a celebration of family, the Silk Road's culinary heritage, and the determination required to build a taste of home in a new world. Transport yourself to the busy streets of Xi'an with every flavorful bite. Wang writes in his introduction: "Here it is, the never-been-told version of how the XFF empire came to be-the random weird pit stops along the way; the family drama behind the scenes; the labor hidden in the secret recipes, and, yes, some really f*cking good spicy cumin lamb." This unique, extraordinary cookbook helps home cooks make the dishes that fans of Xi'an Famous Foods line up for while also exploring the vibrant cuisine and culture of Xi'an. Transporting readers to the streets of Xi'an and the kitchens of New York's Chinatown, Xi'an Famous Foods is the cookbook that fans of Xi'an Famous Foods have been waiting for and makes a perfect gift.

This groundbreaking book explains why women experience burnout differently than men-and provides a simple, science-based plan to help women minimize stress, manage emotions, and live a more joyful life. Burnout. Many women in America have experienced it. What's expected of women and what it's really like to be a woman in today's world are two very different things-and women exhaust themselves trying to close the gap between them. How can you "love your body" when every magazine cover has ten diet tips for becoming "your best self"? How do you "lean in" at work when you're already operating at 110 percent and aren't recognized for it? How can you live happily and healthily in a sexist world that is constantly telling you you're too fat, too needy, too noisy, and too selfish? Sisters Emily Nagoski, PhD, and Amelia Nagoski, DMA, are here to help end the cycle of feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Instead of asking us to ignore the very real obstacles and societal pressures that stand between women and well-being, they explain with compassion and optimism what we're up against-and show us how to fight back. In these pages you'll learn what you can do to complete the biological stress cycle-and return your body to a state of relaxation how to manage the "monitor" in your brain that regulates the emotion of frustration how the Bikini Industrial Complex makes it difficult for women to love their bodies-and how to defend yourself against it why rest, human connection, and befriending your inner critic are keys to recovering and preventing burnout With the help of eye-opening science, prescriptive advice, and helpful worksheets and exercises, all women will find something transformative in these pages-and will be empowered to create positive change. Emily and Amelia aren't here to preach the broad platitudes of expensive self-care or insist that we strive for the impossible goal of "having it all." Instead, they tell us that we are enough, just as we are-and that wellness, true wellness, is within our reach. Advance praise for Burnout "Burnout is the gold standard of self-help books, delivering cutting-edge science with energy, empathy, and wit. The authors know exactly what's going on inside of your frazzled brain and body, and exactly what you can do to fix it. Truly life-changing."-Sarah Knight, New York Times bestselling author of Calm the F*** Down

“For those who see our history through the traditional categories of politics, economics, and culture, a delightful feast awaits. In this remarkably inventive book, Eric Rutkow looks at our national experience through the lens of our magnificent trees, showing their extraordinary importance in shaping how we lived, thrived, and expanded as a people. A beautifully written, devilishly original piece of work.” — David Oshinsky, winner of the Pulitzer Prize “Both delightful and enlightening--a book filled with fascinations and surprises about a subject I had never though about (much less read about) before. That it’s written with such charm and grace only intensifies its appeal.” — Daniel Okrent, bestselling author of Last Call “ American Canopy marks the debut of an uncommonly gifted young historian and writer. Ranging across four centuries of history, Eric Rutkow shows the manifold ways in which trees—and woodland—and wood—have shaped the contours of American life and culture. And because he has managed to build the story around gripping events and lively characters, the book entertains as much as it informs. All in all, a remarkable performance!” — John Demos, Ban croft Prize winner and National Book Award finalist "In American Canopy, Eric Rutkow works a wonderful magic. He takes the most obvious of things—trees—and weaves an astounding and complex narrative that ranges across American history." — S.C. Gwynne, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Empire of the Summer Moon and Rebel Yell "Right from its quietly shocking prelude—the cavalier and surprisingly recent murder of the oldest living thing in North America—Eric Rutkow’s splendid saga shows, through a chain of stories and biographical sketches that are intimate, fresh, and often startling, how trees have shaped every aspect of our national life. Here is the tree as symbol and as tool, as companion and enemy, as a tonic for our spirits and the indispensable ingredient of our every enterprise from the colonization voyages to the transcontinental railroad to Levittown. The result, both fascinating and valuable, is a short of shadow history of America. Toward the end of his finest novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald writes that the ‘vanished trees, the trees that had made way for Gatsby’s house, had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams.’ American Canopy retrieves those trees and does full-rigged (on tall, white-pine masts) justice to the dream." — Richard Snow, author of Iron Dawn

For the first time, the 92-metre frieze of the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, one of the largest historical narratives in marble, has been made the subject of a book. The pictorial narrative of the Boer pioneers who conquered South Africa’s interior during the 'Great Trek' (1835-52) represents a crucial period of South Africa’s past. Conceptualising the frieze both reflected on and contributed to the country’s socio-political debates in the 1930s and 1940s when it was made. The book considers the active role the Monument played in the rise of Afrikaner nationalism and the development of apartheid, as well as its place in post-apartheid heritage. The frieze is unique in that it provides rare evidence of the complex processes followed in creating a major monument. Based on unpublished documents, drawings and models, these processes are unfolded step by step, from the earliest discussions of the purpose and content of the frieze, through all the stages of its design, to its shipping to post-war Italy to be copied into marble from Monte Altissimo, up to its final installation in the Monument. The book examines how visual representation transforms historical memory in what it chooses to recount, and the forms in which it is depicted. The second volume expands on the first, by investigating each of the twenty-seven scenes of the frieze in depth, providing new insights into not only the frieze, but also South Africa’s history. François van Schalkwyk of African Minds, co-publisher with De Gruyter writes: F rom Memory to Marble is an open access monograph in the true sense of the word. Both volumes of the digital version of the book are available in full and free of charge from the date of publication. This approach to publishing democratises access to the latest scholarly publications across the globe. At the same time, a book such as From Memory to Marble, with its unique and exquisite photographs of the frieze as well as its wealth of reproduced archival materials, demands reception of a more traditional kind, that is, on the printed page. For this reason, the book is likewise available in print as two separate volumes. The printed and digital books should not be seen as separate incarnations; each brings its own advantages, working together to extend the reach and utility of From Memory to Marble to a range of interested readers. For more material you can browse at Stanford's database "Voortrekker Monumentality: a digital archive".

The acclaimed author of Founding Gardeners reveals the forgotten life of Alexander von Humboldt, the visionary German naturalist whose ideas changed the way we see the natural world-and in the process created modern environmentalism. NATIONAL BEST SELLER One of the New York Times 10 Best Books of the Year Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, The James Wright Award for Nature Writing, the Costa Biography Award, the Royal Geographic Society's Ness Award, the Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award Finalist for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, the Royal Society Science Book Prize, the Kirkus Prize Prize for Nonfiction, the Independent Bookshop Week Book Award A Best Book of the Year: The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Economist, Nature, Jezebel, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, New Scientist, The Independent, The Telegraph, The Sunday Times, The Evening Standard, The Spectator Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was the most famous scientist of his age, a visionary German naturalist and polymath whose discoveries forever changed the way we understand the natural world. Among his most revolutionary ideas was a radical conception of nature as a complex and interconnected global force that does not exist for the use of humankind alone. In North America, Humboldt's name still graces towns, counties, parks, bays, lakes, mountains, and a river. And yet the man has been all but forgotten. In this illuminating biography, Andrea Wulf brings Humboldt's extraordinary life back into focus: his prediction of human-induced climate change; his daring expeditions to the highest peaks of South America and to the anthrax-infected steppes of Siberia; his relationships with iconic figures, including Simón Bolívar and Thomas Jefferson; and the lasting influence of his writings on Darwin, Wordsworth, Goethe, Muir, Thoreau, and many others. Brilliantly researched and stunningly written, The Invention of Nature reveals the myriad ways in which Humboldt's ideas form the foundation of modern environmentalism-and reminds us why they are as prescient and vital as ever.

The must-have cookbook from the iconic restaurant, revealing never-before-published recipes. "Vibrant photography . . . as satisfying to flip through as it is to cook from ." -New York Times "For any cook or foodie, having access to these recipes is almost unfair." -Richard Blais, winner, Top Chef All-Stars "A cultural chronicle of both cuisine and the immigrant experience in America." - Vogue From a six-seat stall to a global culinary phenomenon, Xi'an Famous Foods has brought the complex, explosive flavors of Xi'an, China, and the province of Shaanxi to the New York City spotlight-and now to your kitchen. The foods of Xi'an, the ancient capital of China and the eastern starting point of the Silk Road, are defined by a unique blend of Middle Eastern and Chinese flavors. Think hand-ripped, chewy biang-biang noodles, cumin-laced lamb, fiery chili oil, and savory rougamo (Chinese burgers). In this long-awaited debut cookbook, founder Jason Wang and his father, David Shi, share their family's story of immigrant success and the recipes that built their culinary empire. This book dives into the region's culinary history alongside 75 recipes for signature dishes, including: The iconic Spicy Cumin Lamb Hand-Ripped Noodles The fragrant, peppery Spicy and Sour Lamb Soup Crispy, savory Stuffed Flatbreads (Roujiamo) Simple, foundational recipes for making their essential chili oil , versatile broths, and, of course, their perfect hand-ripped noodles from scratch. This is more than a cookbook; it's a celebration of family, the Silk Road's culinary heritage, and the determination required to build a taste of home in a new world. Transport yourself to the busy streets of Xi'an with every flavorful bite. Wang writes in his introduction: "Here it is, the never-been-told version of how the XFF empire came to be-the random weird pit stops along the way; the family drama behind the scenes; the labor hidden in the secret recipes, and, yes, some really f*cking good spicy cumin lamb." This unique, extraordinary cookbook helps home cooks make the dishes that fans of Xi'an Famous Foods line up for while also exploring the vibrant cuisine and culture of Xi'an. Transporting readers to the streets of Xi'an and the kitchens of New York's Chinatown, Xi'an Famous Foods is the cookbook that fans of Xi'an Famous Foods have been waiting for and makes a perfect gift.

This groundbreaking book explains why women experience burnout differently than men-and provides a simple, science-based plan to help women minimize stress, manage emotions, and live a more joyful life. Burnout. Many women in America have experienced it. What's expected of women and what it's really like to be a woman in today's world are two very different things-and women exhaust themselves trying to close the gap between them. How can you "love your body" when every magazine cover has ten diet tips for becoming "your best self"? How do you "lean in" at work when you're already operating at 110 percent and aren't recognized for it? How can you live happily and healthily in a sexist world that is constantly telling you you're too fat, too needy, too noisy, and too selfish? Sisters Emily Nagoski, PhD, and Amelia Nagoski, DMA, are here to help end the cycle of feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Instead of asking us to ignore the very real obstacles and societal pressures that stand between women and well-being, they explain with compassion and optimism what we're up against-and show us how to fight back. In these pages you'll learn • what you can do to complete the biological stress cycle-and return your body to a state of relaxation • how to manage the "monitor" in your brain that regulates the emotion of frustration • how the Bikini Industrial Complex makes it difficult for women to love their bodies-and how to defend yourself against it • why rest, human connection, and befriending your inner critic are keys to recovering and preventing burnout With the help of eye-opening science, prescriptive advice, and helpful worksheets and exercises, all women will find something transformative in these pages-and will be empowered to create positive change. Emily and Amelia aren't here to preach the broad platitudes of expensive self-care or insist that we strive for the impossible goal of "having it all." Instead, they tell us that we are enough, just as we are-and that wellness, true wellness, is within our reach. Advance praise for Burnout "Burnout is the gold standard of self-help books, delivering cutting-edge science with energy, empathy, and wit. The authors know exactly what's going on inside of your frazzled brain and body, and exactly what you can do to fix it. Truly life-changing."-Sarah Knight, New York Times bestselling author of Calm the F*** Down

Get the eBook free when you register your print book at Manning. "An exceptional deep dive into the next frontier of AI.” —Aman Chadha, Google This book is a practical guide to understanding how modern reasoning-oriented LLMs work by building their core methods step by step. The book tells a clear engineering story: start with a conventional pre-trained LLM, learn how text generation works, build reliable evaluation tools, improve reasoning through inference-time methods, then move into training-based approaches such as reinforcement learning and distillation. The progression is deliberate. Early chapters establish the baseline model and explain text generation, KV caching, and evaluation with math verifiers. The middle chapters show how reasoning can be improved without changing model weights, using chain-of-thought prompting, sampling, self-consistency, response scoring, and self-refinement. Later chapters move to changing the model itself through reinforcement learning with verifiable rewards, GRPO improvements, format rewards, and finally distillation from stronger reasoning models into smaller ones. The book is especially useful because it implements the core methods from scratch rather than treating them as black-box library calls. Readers see how self-consistency, self-refinement, Best-of-N, and training-based methods actually work, including their cost and latency trade-offs. It also discusses common failure modes, including cases where refinement can make answers worse. Difficult concepts such as softmax, temperature, and top-p sampling are clarified with code-linked explanations and diagrams, and visual workflows make pipelines and scoring methods easier to follow. Reading the book feels like following a guided technical build rather than a loose survey of AI topics. Each concept is introduced because the project now needs it. Diagrams, roadmaps, code listings, exercises, and repeated workflow summaries help readers stay oriented through advanced material. This structure reflects Sebastian Raschka’s professional strength: explaining complex machine learning topics by making every detail concrete and showing exactly where each section fits in the larger story. He does not treat mechanisms like evaluation, log-probabilities, KL regularization, or distillation as isolated abstractions; he connects them to the goal of making reasoning models understandable and implementable. Physically and organizationally, the book has eight chapters and seven substantial appendixes. That design keeps the main narrative focused while moving supporting material like references, exercise solutions, model source code, larger models, batching, evaluation alternatives, and chat interfaces into ordered appendixes. The result is a logically flowing book that remains hands-on, navigable, and technically deep without constantly interrupting the central build. What's inside From-scratch implementations of core LLM reasoning improvements Verifier-based evaluation methods RL with automatic verifiers for mathematics tasks About the reader For readers who know Python and have some knowledge of machine learning. About the author Sebastian Raschka is an LLM Research Engineer with over a decade of experience. He is the author of the bestselling book Build a Large Language Model (From Scratch). Table of Contents 1 Understanding reasoning models 2 Generating text with a pretrained LLM 3 Evaluating reasoning models 4 Improving reasoning with inference-time scaling 5 Inference-time scaling via self-refinement 6 Training reasoning models with reinforcement learning 7 Improving GRPO for reinforcement learning 8 Distilling reasoning models for efficient reasoning A References and further reading B Exercise solutions C Qwen3 LLM source code D Using larger LLMs E Batching and throughput-oriented execution F Common approaches to model evaluation G Building a chat interface

Get the eBook free when you register your print book at Manning. "An exceptional deep dive into the next frontier of AI.” —Aman Chadha, Google This book is a practical guide to understanding how modern reasoning-oriented LLMs work by building their core methods step by step. The book tells a clear engineering story: start with a conventional pre-trained LLM, learn how text generation works, build reliable evaluation tools, improve reasoning through inference-time methods, then move into training-based approaches such as reinforcement learning and distillation. The progression is deliberate. Early chapters establish the baseline model and explain text generation, KV caching, and evaluation with math verifiers. The middle chapters show how reasoning can be improved without changing model weights, using chain-of-thought prompting, sampling, self-consistency, response scoring, and self-refinement. Later chapters move to changing the model itself through reinforcement learning with verifiable rewards, GRPO improvements, format rewards, and finally distillation from stronger reasoning models into smaller ones. The book is especially useful because it implements the core methods from scratch rather than treating them as black-box library calls. Readers see how self-consistency, self-refinement, Best-of-N, and training-based methods actually work, including their cost and latency trade-offs. It also discusses common failure modes, including cases where refinement can make answers worse. Difficult concepts such as softmax, temperature, and top-p sampling are clarified with code-linked explanations and diagrams, and visual workflows make pipelines and scoring methods easier to follow. Reading the book feels like following a guided technical build rather than a loose survey of AI topics. Each concept is introduced because the project now needs it. Diagrams, roadmaps, code listings, exercises, and repeated workflow summaries help readers stay oriented through advanced material. This structure reflects Sebastian Raschka’s professional strength: explaining complex machine learning topics by making every detail concrete and showing exactly where each section fits in the larger story. He does not treat mechanisms like evaluation, log-probabilities, KL regularization, or distillation as isolated abstractions; he connects them to the goal of making reasoning models understandable and implementable. Physically and organizationally, the book has eight chapters and seven substantial appendixes. That design keeps the main narrative focused while moving supporting material like references, exercise solutions, model source code, larger models, batching, evaluation alternatives, and chat interfaces into ordered appendixes. The result is a logically flowing book that remains hands-on, navigable, and technically deep without constantly interrupting the central build. What's inside • From-scratch implementations of core LLM reasoning improvements • Verifier-based evaluation methods • RL with automatic verifiers for mathematics tasks About the reader For readers who know Python and have some knowledge of machine learning. About the author Sebastian Raschka is an LLM Research Engineer with over a decade of experience. He is the author of the bestselling book Build a Large Language Model (From Scratch). Table of Contents 1 Understanding reasoning models 2 Generating text with a pretrained LLM 3 Evaluating reasoning models 4 Improving reasoning with inference-time scaling 5 Inference-time scaling via self-refinement 6 Training reasoning models with reinforcement learning 7 Improving GRPO for reinforcement learning 8 Distilling reasoning models for efficient reasoning A References and further reading B Exercise solutions C Qwen3 LLM source code D Using larger LLMs E Batching and throughput-oriented execution F Common approaches to model evaluation G Building a chat interface