The book contains stories on various subjects, starting with the contemplations of passengers in an airplane during a fictitious flight on various situations in their life, through the memories captured by ZS during his study and work, as well as stories based on pub talks and on the imagination of the author.

As a nuclear engineer, Zsolt StanA k lived for decades in the fascinating world of atoms, nuclear reactions and reactors and was continually surrounded by the language of the trade. One day, it dawned on him that there was also another world a " the everyday life of people a " that was inspiring and often amusing. His stories and books spring from this revelation and deal with absurd situations and common human challenges. Many of his stories are now available in English at www.amazon.co.uk and an electronic version of this book is available at www.kosmas.cz. A true Czechoslovak, fluent in both the Czech and Slovak languages, Zsolt StanA k absorbed both cultures in his formative years. He was born and spent his early youth in KoA!ice, Slovakia, and later studied nuclear physics and engineering in Prague, Czech Republic. His work often took him to Vienna, Austria, where the International Atomic Energy Agency is located and where a " between 1993 and retirement in 2006 a " he held the position of information manager. At present, he lives in Alhaurin de la Torre, Spain. He has two children, Danny and Lucie, three grandchildren, Anetka, David and NatA!lka and two greatgrandchildren, MatAE j and Marek. To learn more about Zsolt StanA k, please visit his website at www.stanik.name and www.kosmas.cz

Age, the faded star on the horizon, followed inadvertently but consistently by a column of weary pilgrims among whom all of us will be gradually included, is nothing but a clear indication of humans returning to where they started - in the bosom of picturesque nature. How nice it would be to go back there without pain, in a good mood and smiling. How nice it would be - even at this stage of life - for the eye to enjoy gazing into the face of a good person, the heart to feel the warm spell of reciprocated love, the joints to move freely and the brain to kindle an optimistic mood every day. In fact, it is often a little different. Worn mechanical parts of the body's machinery squeak in horror, muscles become weak from inactivity, eyes lose their eagle's sharpness and a heart that once liked to love must contend with itself for survival. How easy it is in this state to succumb to despair, often exacerbated by watching that star fade more and more on the horizon of a disappearing future. However, is this despair in old age not commonplace? Is an enjoyable trip back to eternal and beautiful nature no longer possible? Yes, of course it is. For those who are heading in this direction and working a little on themselves, it is possible but, of course, it requires a rather strong will. The sooner it starts, the better, but it is never too late to work so that the body does not suffer and the brain is kept active. Do not let your brain rest, because you can further the beneficial effect of brain activity on mental freshness and overall attitude towards life in old age. As long as possible, the freshness should let you see and experience the world and events around you with delight. This book, riding on the echoing waves of the motto 'Do not leave room for nothingness', pursues this aim.

As a nuclear engineer, Zsolt Stani k lived for decades in the fascinating world of atoms, nuclear reactions and reactors and was surrounded in his everyday life with the language of the trade. It dawned on him that there was also another world - the everyday life of people which was inspiring and often amusing. His stories and books are inspired by this and deal with absurd situations and normal human challenges. He was born in Kozice, now Slovak Republic. Between 1993 and retirement, in 2006 he held the position of Information Manager at the UN International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria. At present he lives in Prague, Czech Republic and holds the position of Consultant in Nuclear Knowledge Management. The book contains 17 mostly funny short stories. The three more voluminous are Hollywood Contemplations, Everyone Yearns for Svetlana and An Angle in Hell - Betty, the Story. Hollywood Contemplations is the story of a group of retired senior citizens who refuse to sit around doing nothing and hence, with daring spirit, venture into the world of fantasy and become famous movie stars. Great stuff. Svetlana is the young Russian lady whom everyone desires. It is the story of marital and extra-marital relationships with a fabulous twist in the tale. It presents a man of two faces who successfully pretends to lead a comfortable and serene married life and at the same time leads an intimate life with his lover. An Angel in Hell is the story of Betty, a true-to-life heroine of post-war Europe. It describes the bravery with which she overcomes the trials and tribulations of everyday life in Britain at that time.

As a nuclear engineer, Zsolt Stanik lived for decades in the fascinating world of atoms, nuclear reactions and reactors and was surrounded in his everyday life with the language of the trade. It dawned on him that there was also another world - the everyday life of people which was inspiring and often amusing. His stories and books are inspired by this and deal with absurd situations and normal human challenges. He was born in KoA ice, now Slovak Republic. Between 1993 and retirement, in 2006 he held the position of Information Manager at the UN International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria. At present he lives in Prague, Czech Republic and holds the position of Consultant in Nuclear Knowledge Management. The book consists of two parts entitled What Comes Naturally" and The Times They Are Changing - It Could Be Even Worse".The first is a collection of short stories and the second a retrospective look back at the monstrosity of the totalitarian regime in the former Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. For more introductory information see the respective parts of the book.