Expanding Horizons
When I read an article that is written beautifully or provokes thought (or ideally both), I save it here. This is not a place for news - anything here is timeless.
Why aren't smart people happier?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we thought more about solving poorly defined problems when thinking about intelligence?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we proactively shaped how and what influenced us? An insightful reminder that none of us are original and we would be wise to be more aware of that fact.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we proactively shaped how and what influenced us? An insightful reminder that none of us are original and we would be wise to be more aware of that fact.
Luxury Beliefs are Status Symbols
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we questioned how fashionable our beliefs are? Thought-provoking push to consider whether some ‘luxury’ beliefs are actually costly to those not in power.
Beyond Moneyball: Data-Driven Education Boosted by Observation and Judgment
Wouldn’t it be awesome if more things weren’t viewed as either/or but rather both/and? A great look at how one of the most ambitious international education efforts uses human judgment to augment data, creating impressive results in the process. I could spend a long time talking about Bridge International, but it is one of the most interesting experiments in international development in the past few decades.
The high-return activity of raising others' aspirations
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we used our influence to raise others’ aspirations? Deceptively simple point that never crossed my mind until this article, but now I want to be reminded of it often as I think that’s a really helpful framing for advice-givers.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if effective altruism wasn’t such a misery trap? I found these notes to be very interesting and thorough in providing both the positive and negative elements of the effective altruism movement.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we reflected on addiction more deeply? Same writer as below - beautiful and insightful writer.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we remembered how much our beliefs change over time? Same writer as above - beautiful and insightful writer.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if time didn’t exist? It may not…get ready for a mind-blowing essay on the nature of time. If you want to go deeper down the rabbit hole, The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli is a short and beautiful book.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we didn’t let “preachers of wealth… hoodwink us into their vision?” A look at the Luna disaster in crypto and the broader lessons.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if there was less liquidity in crypto? A thought-provoking analysis of crypto’s failures as we enter a bear market.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we remembered Newton’s pursuit of alchemy along with his contributions to science? This is a nice reminder that progress includes necessary failures that can look crazy in hindsight.
The Four Quadrants of Conformism
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we honestly mapped ourselves along these axes of conformism? This is old, but I find myself thinking about this framework often when I look at others’ behavior (and my own, too).
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we worked with people whose values we disdained? A beautiful essay from a guy who was a caterer for William Buckley. We are all walking contradictions…
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we recognized how optimism shaped our reality? An interesting look at the potential direction of causation between our beliefs and what ends up happening.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if conscious dying were a part of the idea of living well? Thought-provoking lessons from living with an aging cat :)
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we looked deeper to find the true enemy of man? A fantastic, thought-provoking note from Thich Nhat Hanh to MLK Jr on the power of self-burning as a means of expression.
Camping with President Theodore Roosevelt
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we all had the vitality of Theodore Roosevelt? This is a wonderful ode to him that highlights so many things we ought to be nostalgic for in our lives (despite all the progress that has been made in the subsequent century).
Why the Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could recognize the issues in American cultural and political discourse as a starting point to remedying them? This is a good starting point.
Ideal Governance (for companies, countries and more)
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we experimented with new models of governance?
It feels like good governance is in the cultural zeitgeist more than any time in recent memory and this article was a good provocation that our models for governance are remarkably static and unimaginative.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could make time pass more quickly with the pull of a thread?
Maybe not. Great short story.
Are we running out of resources?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could avoid running out of resources?
A thoughtful reply that says this is the wrong question to be asking.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we used fasting as a tool to “keep the body enamored of the particular delights of nourishment”? You can tell this is a poet writing because the piece is gorgeous to consume.
PODCAST: The Art of the Untold Story
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had gratitude for the unseen expertise that saves our lives?
PODCAST: The Second Bakery Attack by Haruki Murakami
Wouldn’t it be awesome if your spouse surprised you with just how much she was your ride-or-die best friend?
This short story is an incredible answer to that question told through the sonorous voice of LeVar Burton.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had multiple reasons for being?
The Fable of the Dragon-Tyrant
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we put more energy towards life extension?
I have typically been quite against this avenue of exploration as a low-priority, relatively useless whimsy of the rich, but this has definitely jarred me from that position. I’m not quite ready to renounce it, but I am less staunch in my belief.
On Attention, Addiction and Algorithms
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we recognized the addictive powers of our screens and were willing to put in the effort to regain our focus?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we recognized the incredible powers of addiction and showed more empathy as a result?
Ownership and the American Dream
Wouldn’t it be awesome if Web3 enabled more people to become owners in addition to laborers?
Why America Has So Few Doctors
Wouldn’t it be awesome if America had more doctors? Good to understand why we don’t.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if I understood WTF Ethereum actually was? Still not 100% there, but this was a great step in the right direction.
Beware The FOMO Bullies of Technology
Great dissection of Web3. Made me think of F. Scott Fitzgerald quote. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had … “the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.” That basically summarizes my feelings on Web3/crypto.
Adventures in Technophilosophy: On the Reality of Virtual Worlds
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we treated VR seriously enough to make it a better version of reality?
Jetpacks and the enigma of solo flight
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had jetpacks? Dave Eggers suggests that we already do and the answer is no (though I still think the tech has a few exponential leaps to make)
Yudkowsky Contra Ngo On Agents
Wouldn’t it be awesome if AGI didn’t lead to disastrous consequences for humanity? One of the most prominent researchers in this space isn’t optimistic - here’s why.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if a great movie also was a great example of cultural representation?
Line Goes Up - The Problem with NFTs
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we enjoyed thoughtful critiques of things we believed in? (2-hour watch)
The Beatles: Get Back (Disney+)
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could spend 8 hours in the room with the greatest band of all time, watching the mundane and magical ways that greatness unfolds? (PS I predict this footage will be revamped/re-mastered in the next two decades once again to be experienced in VR…I can’t wait).
Fantastic writeup on why this doc is so special here
A Simple Plan to Solve America's Problems
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we aimed for an abundance of comfort, an abundance of power, and an abundance of time?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if something as simple as handwriting could be written about beautifully?
Policy Proposals for Crypto Protocols to Make Them Less Dystopic and More Inclusive
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we worked to make the evolution of crypto less dystopic?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we recognized the power of stories? This is an excellent articulation of why I’m leaning more and more into storytelling.
Your Attention Didn't Collapse. It Was Stolen.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we worked on collective changes that could restore our focus?
Living In Expectation of the Unexpected Gift
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we “considered that rest is not a time set aside, but a spirit brought to every time?”
Self-Medicating Chimps, Pugilistic Shrimp, and Other Remarkable Animals: An Illustrated Guide
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we knew more about the amazing life forms we share this planet with?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if more articles were this beautiful? This is an essay that is gorgeous visually…it really makes me wonder if there were potential for more transformative reading experiences.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we laughed more often? A beautiful short poem and an inspiration for how to live life.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had more fun making money and made more money having fun? May be possible in the world of Web3, though I still have my doubts.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we cared less about work? Another one that’s easier said than done, but a lot of thought-provoking points raised in this piece.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we read more books? There has never been more places to put your attention so reading feels like it has a higher opportunity cost. That being said, the right type of reading feels like it might be more valuable than ever in today’s attention-hijacking economy.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we were more optimistic? I’m probably not the hardest person to convince of this as an optimist, but still, I found the argument compelling.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we thought more about unknown unknowns? I liked this whole framework for thinking about the future.
Why You Should Ignore the Metagame
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could just ignore the metagame? Easier said than done, but definitely a view that resonates with me and one I aspire to with varying degrees of success.
There is still a Michigan difference
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could celebrate the best of tribal passions? I didn’t even go to Michigan, but I still nodded in deep agreement reading this. Pair with this, too.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if there were more Ponzi schemes? Sounds like the answer would obviously be no, but this article at least made me wonder. I’m a big Web3 fan, but a lot of it is just the proliferation of Ponzi schemes. Right now, I’m just living with the cognitive dissonance as I try to sort out my views.
Nuclear energy vs. climate change
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could tell powerful stories so simply? This short video blew my mind in how well it told me a story about nuclear energy and its role in society. I’m not sure if it’s right, but a 27 second video told me more than most articles would have on the topic and stuck with me.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we were a bit more thoughtful in adopting new technologies? This is a fantastic explanation of how we mindlessly adopt new technologies without understanding the larger consequences. Paints a very dystopic picture of the arc of technological progress, but one I find hard to disagree with.
Votes for Children! Why we should lower the voting age to six
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we lowered the voting age to six? Honestly, would have completely laughed at that idea until I read this. Now, I’m at least open to the idea.
6 Things to Think About When Designing Your Child
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could design our children? Ha, probably not, but thought-provoking considering the possibilities in the future.
How to cope with an existential crisis
Wouldn’t it be awesome if I could cope better with the existential crises in my life? This is a helpful start.
Towards a Theory of Justice for Artificial Intelligence
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had a theory of justice for artificial intelligence? In fact, I might argue it’s necessary.
NFTs are leading to a new financial dystopia
Wouldn’t it be awesome if not everything was for sale and more things were shared? That may be the opposite of where NFTs are taking us.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we valued the future prosperity of humans more in our current thinking? Maybe…or maybe not.
TikTok and the Sorting Hat (with part 2 and part 3)
Wouldn’t it be awesome if people appreciated the magic of TikTok? A phenomenal three-part series that’s well worth the read.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if more companies had “bigger ambitions than just succeeding as a business”, instead seeking “to change the nature of business itself”?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we recognized the most important role of CEOs / founders is in the narrative they create? (Long, but very good article on why and how narrative matters and how this has impacted venture capital and investment banks. Conclusion is particularly compelling if you can make it there.)
The Promise of Pills That Do Nothing
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we used the placebo effect to our advantage?
Web3's Great Gambit: Incentives for the Almost Impossible
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could incentivize some really thoughtful experiments? That, to me, is the promise of Web3 in a sentence.
I'll Tell You The Secret of Cancer
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could separate pseudo-science and science? This was a really good read on why a positive attitude isn’t what you need to beat cancer.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we “realized not only that the internet is an inevitable religion, but the first one that humans have had say over en masse—the first time we’ve gotten not just to choose but to define our own system of belief?”
Today's Web3 Communities: The McMansions of the Internet
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we recognized communities make neighborhoods, not vice versa?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we saw the “tech industry as a creator of fantasy worlds”? Loved the entire argument here about stories, fiction, and pre-truths leading to how our reality gets constructed over time.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we took seriously crazier ideas? Awesome short story on a “scientist in an insane asylum theorizing that the sun is alive.”
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we actually understood the building blocks of our digital lives?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if other VCs understood the long game of A16Z before they were completely eliminated?
The Exponential Age will transform economics forever
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we thought more about how to prepare our institutions for exponential technological change? Fantastic hypothesis on the exponential gap emerging between technology and institutions.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we gave lullabies the respect they deserve?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we reflected more on our own relationship with social media like this author does?
The Serviceberry - An Economy of Abundance
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had more of a gift economy? (This is a long article, but beautiful and really worth it).
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we inquired with an openness to being persuaded?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we took the time to understand the potential in something that seemed crazy (NFTs)?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we were less status-seeking?
Does X cause Y? An in-depth evidence review
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we were actually this considered in reviewing the evidence on important topics?
How Superhuman Built an Engine to Find Product / Market Fit
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we were more rigorous about determining product/market fit for startups?
All Possible Views about Humanity's Future are Wild
Wouldn’t it be awesome if the present were the most incredible time period in the entire timeline of our universe?
Invent your own life's meaning
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we each invented our own life’s meaning?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we spent more of our time focused on self-renewal?
Crypto for People who don't follow Crypto
Wouldn’t it be awesome if more of us understood what the hell was going on in the world of crypto?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we were less dismissive of NFTs and actually tried to understand their power?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if this article was right about the future of ads being on devices? Honestly, I’m not sure as I’m not smart enough to think through the implications.
The Greatest Set of Tennis Ever
Wouldn’t it be awesome if all tennis fans appreciated the last act of the greatest generation in tennis history?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could play the game without looking at the scoreboard? (Rebuttal to piece below)
Wouldn’t it be awesome if more of us realized we were playing a game?
PODCAST: Engineering the Apocalypse
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we learned the big lessons from this pandemic?
On the fields of justice I find peace
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we took the time understand ourselves and share it like he does here?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if there more Twitter threads that read like poetry?
Playing Different Games. Or why Tiger is eating your lunch (& your deals)
Wouldn’t it be awesome if Tiger’s strategy led to VC getting better, not worse?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if Web3 was developed with humanity’s wellness in mind?
The Case for Universal Creative Income
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had some form of universal creative income?
What innovations do people actually need after the pandemic? Not flying cars
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we focused more on how we build companies rather than what we build?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if there were a way for companies to ‘exit’ to their actual users?
The most important scarce resource is legitimacy
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we recognized the power of legitimacy and used it to benefit society?
PODCAST: Sam Harris' Final Thoughts on Free Will
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we considered the possibility of a lack of free will without letting it be depressing?
PODCAST: StarTalk Origins of the Universe
Wouldn’t it be awesome if when we were unduly stressed about something in our lives, we could contemplate the Big Rip?
PODCAST: Sam Harris' Boundaries of Self
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we took the time to contemplate the meaning and value of friendship?
PODCAST: The Story of Your Life
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we looked at our fantasies with less judgment and more curiosity?
My body is unserviceable and well past its sell-by date
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we treated old people less paternalistically?
Work: A Deep History, from the Stone Age to the Age of Robots
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could reimagine our relationship with work instead of taking it for granted?
Wouldn’t it be awesome if the impending AI revolution led to an amazing future for everyone?
Let there be more biographies of failures
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had more biographies of failures?
I still don’t feel like I truly get Reddit, but this definitely helped me see the potential in this platform that’s old but somehow doesn’t feel stale.
I still don’t feel like I truly get Reddit, but this definitely helped me see the potential in this platform that’s old but somehow doesn’t feel stale.
Cryptocurrencies and NFTs are a disaster
Recently went down the rabbit hole on NFTs and was feeling super excited about them until I came across this article…real downer but sometimes it’s necessary.
Fascinating piece on how equity has become a huge part of culture, how that trend might persist, and what that could mean.
Speaking of storytellers, here’s one of my favorite, Yuval Noah Harari, on the lessons from Covid. Thought-provoking as always.
Really appreciate this point about the importance of stories and how underappreciated they are in all facets of our lives.
Newsletters: Is this progress?
Amazing essay on newsletters and the future of the web. Highly recommend.
Fascinating reporting on a repressed memory incident that sparked a big, active debate about the role of memories in condemning sex offenders.
No Meetings, No Deadlines, No Employees
Amazing to rethink our conventions as it relates to work. May not be for everyone, but it’s clear to me more variation is needed in our options for work.
Workaholics in the Hands of a Firing God
Really interested in this idea of work as the new religion
The Unauthorized Story of Andreessen Horowitz
I’m currently obsessed with the future of media and this article was an excellent look at how a major VC firm is involved
Does Psychotherapy Actually Work? (podcast)
My new favorite podcast. Angela Duckworth (author of Grit) does an amazing job of showing how scientific debate ought to be conducted
How Much Do We Really Care About Children? (podcast)
Amazing podcast that completely upended my previous “knowledge” of car seats and made me think a lot about children’s rights
A lovely piece about the struggle to remember loved ones and what that means about our own efforts
How Venture Capitalists Are Deforming Capitalism
A lot to say about this, but a really interesting argument about the problems with VC.
When Birds Migrated to the Moon
Fascinating to think how little we knew about birds migration relatively recently.
A super thought-provoking look at sex robot technology - the benefits, the risks, and the possible futures
A Game Designer’s Analysis of QAnon
Fascinating to read this unique look at the QAnon phenomena and introduction to this concept of apophenia
Loved this contrarian view of Beth in The Queen’s Gambit and geniuses. Resonated particularly as I never found Beth’s character compelling throughout the mini-series.
Another gem from Paul Graham about the importance of being independent-minded and how to recognize and cultivate the characteristic.
DoorDash and Societal Arbitrage
A depressing but great look at how ‘convenience’ apps screw their workers and small businesses as far as they can while still playing by the rules (technically)
PODCAST: Republic of Lies (Apple, Spotify)
Sam Harris goes off on Trump, his inner circle, and what they have done “playing a game of chicken with our democracy”. He also draws an important distinction between Trump, his enablers, and the 70 million Trump supporters.
Great ode to the vastness of written knowledge surrounding us
PODCAST: Tim Ferriss Show - Naval Ravikant on Happiness and much more (Apple, Spotify)
Naval is an unbelievably clear thinker and communicator. It’s awesome to hear him expound on pretty much anything, and Tim Ferriss lets him do so for 2 hours.
Short, simple read, but a powerful idea. It’s not so overwhelming to think of things that comprise days you hate and try to do LESS of those things, instead of the seemingly more difficult problem of doing more.
This overlooked variable is the key to the pandemic
We need so much more of this. The scientific truth is out there - it’s nuanced, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be explained simply and well. This is a good example.
Arguably my favorite pastime - thinking through a completely random idea from a lot of angles. Fun thoughts and hypotheses to ponder.
Worth it just to watch the Anand G MSNBC appearance. But a really important reminder of the fragility of our democratic state and to not take it for granted.
What if Democrats Just Promised to Make Things Work Again?
A powerful argument for competence. Republicans have co-opted that message and conflated it with small government, but I agree with the author that people want things to work and are less ideological.
Welcome to your bland new world
When you see it laid out so neatly, it’s crazy to see how similar these companies’ formulas are. This is the road we are headed down...
Digital sight management, and the mystery of the missing Amazon receipts
Right in my wheelhouse - a scary article about the inevitable widespread proliferation of AR glasses and the data they will capture. Obvious once you think about it, but few ever do.
PODCAST: Radiolab - Fungus Amungus (Apple, Spotify)
I’m absolutely convinced that fungi should be next to AI as one of the top areas of study. I think we are just scratching the surface of this world and each time I get a glimpse, I think there’s so much more to be discovered there.
PODCAST: TED Radio Hour - Finding Another Way (Apple, Spotify)
A fascinating look at conflict that I learned a lot from.
Value Investing is Short Tech Disruption
Interesting point of view on how value investing may now just be a disguise for anti-tech, which doesn’t seem like a wise play in 2020. That being said, I think this conflates a specific view of value investing (Fama) and that index with a philosophy that can’t be so narrowly defined.
A great piece of writing that looks at the life of concrete workers
The Making of a Molotov Cocktail
A really interesting read on the story of two lawyers who got caught during the protests across America
Statement by Jeff Bezos to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary
A masterpiece defense of Amazon, America, and large companies. Not sure the argument is right, but this is steel-manning the defense of Amazon as best you can.
Are you an anarchist? The answer may surprise you
My former professor always is thought-provoking in his writing and beliefs. This primer on anarchism is an excellent example.
A good argument for why regulation and antitrust may not be the answer to our tech problems
College Football’s Great Facade is Cracking
A great piece of writing that provides a primer on college football, it’s importance in America, and the foundations that are crumbling (even faster now due to the pandemic)
PODCAST: Duolingo Ask Martin Anything: Listener Questions Answered (Apple, Spotify)
A weird recommendation, but this is a masterclass in marketing. How do VC-backed companies win? By investing crazy amounts of money to produce a language podcast that’s completely free. The whole podcast is essentially just marketing to drive people to their ecosystem.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) Responds to Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL)
I’m not the biggest AOC fan, but this speech was an absolute delight. She seized the moment and absolutely skewered the “I have a daughter” defense that has become the gendered version of “I have a black friend.”
A fascinating insight into the mind of one of the best fiction writers in my view
Slate Star Codex and Silicon Valley’s War Against the Media
This is great journalism. A wonderfully balanced and no-holds-barred look at the rationalist movement through the lens of Slate Star Codex.
The right way to measure productivity
A really important re-framing of the input vs. output debate and the need to incorporate time frames and a dynamic view
PODCAST: The Flag and the Fury (Apple, Spotify)
A fascinating deep dive on changing the flag of Mississippi and what ends up being catalysts of change.
PODCAST: What it will take for tech and Hollywood to be anti-racist, w/Color Of Change's Rashad Robinson (Apple, Spotify)
First time I have heard Rashad and he was spectacular. His principles were strong and very well stated. Loved it.
The Cook and the Chef: Musk’s Secret Sauce
Less interested in the Musk deep dive than the analysis here around what we should be aiming to do in our lives. Gave me a ton of food for thought about my own direction.
Not So Simple: Notes from a Tech-Free Life
Poignant description from a technology-free life. I’m particularly interested in why he seems to describe this as a binary proposition - now that he’s shown he can live tech-free, why not introduce some elements that he particularly misses?
A great insight into thinking about things that won’t change as opposed to things that will.
What is the July 2020 Twitter spat between Taylor Lorenz and Balaji S. Srinivasan really about?
This is less about the spat itself than the future of journalism. In responding to this on Quora, acknowledging his biases and trying to correct for them, Jeremy Arnold models a new form of individually-driven journalism.
PODCAST: A Good Life (Apple, Spotify)
Sam Harris may not hit the mark for me when it comes to race, but I find his conversations about an examined life truly fascinating. This one is no exception.
PODCAST: The Powerball Revolution (Apple, Spotify)
Gladwell loves the grand unified theories, and so do I. While he can often be a stretch, I thought this was really thought-provoking and has a ton of implications about how we choose.
The slow road to sudden change
A beautifully written argument as to why what feels like sudden change is actually the culmination of long and hard work in the effort to progress society.
On sheep, wolves and sheepdogs
Really opened my mind to how (I presume) many of our police officers and armed forces view their role in society. We can debate the premise, but it’s important nonetheless to understand what is a widespread starting point.
The pandemic shows us the genius of supermarkets
A little slow to start, but eventually becomes a wonderful ode to something I never thought I’d be nostalgic for - the regional supermarket.
What it’s like to get doxed for taking a bike ride
A harrowing tale of what happens when Twitter warriors attack in a world without privacy.
The American Press Is Destroying Itself
A provocative piece on where the leftist media has gone wrong.
Sridhar Vembu’s vision from the village
A radical approach to running a successful company that’s worth considering.
The love that lays the swale in rows
One of the most beautiful and thought-provoking pieces I’ve read in a long time. A fascinating exploration of tools, technology, labor and the choices before us. Highly recommend.
My friend makes a great case for why power is the lens by which all rules are filtered
Don’t understand the protests? What you’re seeing is people pushed to the edge
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar writes a beautiful piece trying to explain the type of feelings that lead to what we’ve seen in America this past weekend.
Watch: George Floyd, Minneapolis Protests, Ahmaud Arbery & Amy Cooper - Trevor Noah
Super thought-provoking piece from Trevor Noah about the interconnectedness of events and society upholding its contractual obligations with black Americans
I Don’t Feel Like Buying Stuff Anymore
Could the contraction in spending lead to more fundamental shifts in our economy? We’ve been pushed to be consumers and spend overtly and covertly for so long, it’s hard to see that changing.
PODCAST: The failure of meritocracy (Apple, Spotify)
You’ll find a lot of Sam Harris on here going forward as, while he has his annoying habits, he is one of the most clear thinkers and interlocutors I’ve seen. I’m a subscriber, so I listen to the full versions, but I imagine even the partial versions are worthwhile.
This really opened my eyes to the immense hole in the argument for meritocracy, which I previously had thought was unassailable. Fascinating listen and one that has really altered my perspective.
PODCAST: The Bull and the Bear Case for the American Economy (Apple, Spotify)
Found this truly fascinating exploration of the possible outcomes economically and the fundamental change of having a government backstop during crises. A little reaching at times, but worth it for some truly well-laid out cases.
An old Carl Sagan piece that is beautiful in its clarity of thought. The need for balancing skepticism with openness is something to always keep in mind.
How the COVID-19 Bailout Gave Wall Street a No-Lose Casino
Shares my increasing sentiment that this pandemic is only deepening the divide. I don’t know where this leads, but definitely not in a positive direction for broader society.
Really interesting point of view on the big moves in the corporate world that have led to value and Amazon’s next big move in preparing a “vaccinated” supply chain.
Amazing snippets of profound advice.
I thought Stage IV Cancer was bad enough
A helpful piece of perspective on life, kids, and coronavirus.
Excellent primer on rising debt during crises and why, in this case, the piper doesn’t need to get paid.
$1t in equity: How Carta is set to unlock the private markets
On the face of it, this is a standard VC hyping it's portfolio company. But if you read this with a lens of 'what's wrong with VC/technology', this focus on monopoly creation and the resulting exponential value lays bare major power / inequality / privacy issues.
Beautifully written article about life in a 'tech' company and the Silicon Valley culture.
30 things I learned before turning 30
My girl TSwift with some pearls of wisdom. Lighthearted, and somewhat cliche, but nice reflection from someone who has managed being in the public eye for a long time and handled it surprisingly well.
But I'm not a lawyer. I'm an agent.
Amazing article from David Simon (most notably creator of The Wire) exposing the craziness behind the concept of 'packaging' that has distorted incentives and led to depressed salaries for those working on the writing/production side of the entertainment industry. Absolutely fascinating.
Loved this article on meditation and mindfulness that explores the connection between the recent western obsession with these concepts and the ancient tradition.
A really interesting hypothesis for the current anger in middle-class America and the path that led to it, starting from WWII.
Thought-provoking way of thinking of love not as an object, but as an event. I think the implications of this simple re-framing are really interesting and worth considering.
You may want to marry my husband
This is an old one, but I just came across it and it was so heartwarming. I loved reading this so much.
My dad's friendship with Charles Barkley
Another sports piece, but another great one showing the genuine human side of Charles Barkley. Super interesting to read.
One of the coolest athlete-written pieces. It sounds like Allen Iverson is really talking. He used to be my favorite player back in the day, so fun to see what he's really like.
The tails coming apart as a metaphor for life
A really interesting point about how tails diverge more and more with weaker correlations and how it explains various findings related to happiness and morality.
Amazing 30-minute voyage around the world accompanied by pictures and sounds.
Can we choose our own identity?
Never thought of who controls identity. The difference between Caitlyn Jenner and Rachel Dolezal really brings the point home around issues of who controls identity.
Humans are a post-truth species
Great points by the always thought-provoking author Yuval Noah Harari. Fake news is not new and information sources are not good or bad, black or white. We need a more thoughtful approach to reducing our biases.
How to change the course of humanity
Really thought-provoking article about the conventional wisdom around agriculture leading to larger societal structures and thus inequality being very weakly supported by the evidence. If you challenge that premise, it calls into question a lot of how we think about addressing inequality.
Are stock buybacks starving the economy?
Interesting connection between stagnant wage growth and stock buybacks. No surprise that corporate America continues to prioritize owner wealth and profits over employees or consumers.
I continue to be impressed with how The Ringer has evolved over time. This is a really accessible, well-produced video on how Netflix plan to eventually make money given all their spend on new content.
Very interesting point on why bureaucracies exist, which raises a larger point that instead of viewing something critically, try to think of how it emerged and what problem it intended to solve.
What Elon Musk should learn from the Thailand cave rescue
I couldn't agree more with this. Silicon Valley loves the 'moon shot', but there's a lot to be learned from other areas of safer, more incremental innovation.
A great look at the importance of Socrates as a philosopher. I always thought of him as a bit of a jerk in Plato's writings, but this really changed my view of him.
How smart TVs in millions of US homes track more than what's on TV tonight
Title says it all - yet another example of the scary invasion of privacy and thirst for data that the advertising economy has generated.
A way of monetizing poor people
An expose of an ugly practice of predatory lending to the poor - where there's money to be made, morality goes out the window.
Thomas Bayes and the crisis in science
Great article on Bayes theorem, its importance, and also why it was rejected by the establishment in statistics for centuries before recently gaining more widespread acceptance.
Jimmy Carter for higher office
I've only really known of Jimmy Carter as the punch line of a President, but this is a really interesting look at a man that may have been too 'good' for the modern presidency. In some ways, it seems as though he might have been a victim of poor timing and might actually have been a man ahead of his time.
A fun article with a lot of practical insights on a popular course at Yale called Psychology and the Good Life.
Bill Clinton feels his own pain
I'm a huge Bill Clinton fan, but this is shameful. One, I had forgotten (or never really paid attention to) the number of claims against Bill Clinton with regard to his treatment of women. Two, his response twenty years later needed to be a whole lot better...
The financial scandal no one is talking about
I've always wondered about the dominance of the big four accounting firms, but this article really solidifies in my mind how skeptical we should be of the entire accounting architecture that supposedly serves as a watchdog of companies.
Own Goal: The Inside Story of How the USMNT Missed the 2018 World Cup
A really good piece of journalism, documenting all the behind the scenes of the US mens soccer teams stunning collapse. Not a big soccer fan, but really enjoyed it nonetheless.
Curiosity and what equality really means
A beautiful defense of the principle of all lives being equal and the challenge in following through with that principle in medicine.
The 9.9 Percent is the new American Aristocracy
One of the most important articles I've read in a long time. Anyone reading this through me is likely either part of the 9.9% or soon to be. It's high time we stop ignoring this unpleasant reality and confront it and the effects our 'meritocracy' has on the rest of America.
One of my unpopular views - I truly believe we are too quick as a society to dismiss assisted suicide or forms of euthanasia. Why is it ok for dogs but not humans?
How Baby Boomers broke America
I don't agree with everything in this article, but very thought-provoking narrative of how American meritocracy has turned into a modern day aristocracy.
Former Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist is working at Coney's in Detroit. Interesting read about a guy who seemingly has a really unique view on the world around him.
I love simple, accessible explainers of physics concepts and this is a good one.
Review of Bryan Caplan's The Case Against Education
This review was fantastic - understood the core arguments of the book and like the author of this review, agreed with many of the insights but not the conclusion.
I am a data factory (and so are you)
Unbelievable article that captures a lot of what I think is the dangerous philosophy of Silicon Valley. The metaphor of a data factory and controlling our output and consumption is really provocative, but tough to reject.
Good article. Not fluffy support, but not overly cynical either. I loved the idea of CAC being the new rent and how the DTC trend is actually ending up more similar to existing retail than the 'disruptors' care to admit.
The Atlantic Had A Meeting about Kevin Williamson. It was a liberal self-reckoning.
A long, but really thoughtful, discourse on how to promote and debate ideas as a liberal that you find objectionable. It seems easy at a high level, but when you work through the specific scenarios, it quickly becomes really, really hard.
Disneyflix is coming. And Netflix should be scared
A fantastic point about the pros and cons of Disney moving their content to their own streaming service. Disruption is much easier to see in the rearview mirror, predicting it is much more complex.
How do you control 1.4 billion people?
Scary look at the not so distant future where 'social credit' determines your lot in life. Much like the Black Mirror episode.
How a Think Tank Measures the Impact of Ideas
Fantastic description of how a nonprofit in the policy space took on the challenge of measuring impact. Reminiscent of our work with Pearson on measuring results in education.
How Genetics is Changing our Understanding of 'Race'
Unbelievable article on a really complex subject that is too easy to vilify.
This Galaxy Has Almost No Dark Matter
I love when science finds mysteries even more so than when they resolve them. The quest to understand our universe never fails to amaze...
Interesting story about exploiting the lottery and what it shows about what's right and what's wrong.
This is a fun one. Steve Francis' journey is crazy as heck. Makes you really reflect on the single prism through which we view athletes instead of their broader context as people.
Really resonated with me about the contradictions between what you want and believe for society and what you want for your own kids.
M Night Shyamalan with JJ Redick
One of the most fascinating interviews I've ever heard. At first, I thought M Night Shyamalan was too cocky and self-assured, but his perspectives were so damn insightful and resonated so deeply I couldn't help but respect the hell out of him.
Really articulate argument for why decentralization is important and why the author thinks it will win out over the centralized systems of Facebook, Google, Apple in the long run.
I can pretend that this is the reason Michigan seems to be a step away from the truly elite programs in college football.
Gratitude comes from noticing your life, not thinking about it
Awesome lesson on gratitude. Simply put, and something I'm going to try and incorporate into my life.
Fantastic article. Had never considered the dominant role convenience plays in modern society and some of the ills of tech giants, but this does an amazing job laying out the case.
For people of color, banks are shutting the door to homeownership
Can't say I'm surprised, but good to see these discriminatory practices exposed through rigorous research. The categorical denial by all the lenders is depressing...
This teenager accused two on-duty cops of rape. She had no idea the law might protect them.
Unbelievable. The only possible bright spot from this is that the frankly ridiculous law allowing 'consensual' sex between police and someone in their custody will end across the U.S.
What teenagers are learning from online porn
No answers here, but a really important discussion on a super-complex issue. I want to ignore this issue as long as I can, but the prevalence of online porn and how we teach kids about their sexuality is the elephant in the room we never talk about. Especially with the #metoo movement showing how flawed our current societal mores are, grappling with how we educate our children becomes even more important.
Our best hope for civil discourse online is on...Reddit
I had no idea this existed - it provides a ray of hope in an otherwise poisonous online atmosphere. I'm starting to realize more and more that good tech culture can be intentionally cultivated, making it all the more bewildering that it seems so rare that it actually is.
It's time for Tom Izzo to stop deflecting and start talking
This isn't because I hate MSU. I actually thought this was a really fair piece of writing targeted at someone who is a friend of the writer.
Utopic wellness communities are a multi-billion dollar real estate trend
Interesting concept that I'd never heard of previously. It's a little Stepford Wives, but honestly, it seems pretty compelling and something I would definitely consider. It's unclear from this how old people-dominated this is vs. younger families. And obvious questions re: diversity, schooling etc.
Absolute must-read. An unbelievable primer on the importance of the blockchain in potentially revolutionizing the internet. Turned me into a believer.
Every successful relationship is successful for the same exact reasons
Another Teddy special - this one's a bit cliche, but I actually think just reflecting on these cliches often enough can be important in maintaining a successful relationship. As much as we know many of these things to be true, we lose sight of them in our daily lives.
This is not new, but my friend Teddy shared this and it is absolutely worth it. It's a fantastic argument for why solitude, and not necessarily in the ways you normally think, is the essence of leadership.
What is Kyrie chasing? And why chase it without LeBron?
Great reporting and writing from Jackie MacMullan, one of the best in the business. Interesting to get behind the scenes on one of the more surprising trades in recent NBA history.
What I was wrong about this year
I love the concept of journalistic accountability, and this also provides a great point about the need for stories to accompany probabilities.
Amazon is filled with sketchy reviews. Here's how to spot them.
I've wondered about this before with certain products, but it was sad and fascinating to see how prevalent this is and how little Amazon can do about it.
Even though this is a little bit of a sales pitch for their new foundation, I couldn't agree more with the sentiments in here on helicopter parenting and the dangers therein. We need to let kids be independent and experience some of the ups and downs of reality.
FCC Repeals Net Neutrality Rules for Internet Providers
I usually avoid news, but this is pretty big. Unclear how companies will react, but it seems like the end of an era when it comes to the internet.
A Crisis Line That Calms with Texting and Data
As much as I rail against big data generally, there are uses where it's hard to see the downside. The insights coming out of this text-based hotline are interesting and potentially life-saving.
The problem with Muzak - Spotify's bid to remodel an industry
I'd never considered how curated algorithm-driven playlists could reshape our taste in music, but this article makes a compelling argument for exactly that. When it comes to big data and corporations, it's always worth deeper consideration of the unintended consequences.
Must read. The article itself is pretty good, but the format is revolutionary. The mother writes the article and the daughter inserts her point of view as footnotes. Really unique storytelling form.
Napoleon was the best general ever
A fun and thoughtful use of data to rank generals.
Another piece that demonstrates the value of investigative reporting. The ugly practices of indentured servitude still to be found in America is really reprehensible.
The future is here - AlphaZero learns chess
Even if, like me, you can't follow the chess parts of this (I only know one person who can), this article still helps explain why the latest AI achievement is yet another huge conceptual breakthrough.
AI-controlled brain implants for mood disorders tested in people
It's the beginning of the end, folks. This may seem benevolent, but the Pandora's box this opens is too scary to even contemplate.
Every parent wants to protect their child. I never got the chance.
Absolutely amazing piece by a parent of a child with cystic fibrosis filing a 'wrongful birth' lawsuit. Just heart-wrenching and deeply thought-provoking.
Ushering my father to a (mostly) good death
Another beautiful piece of writing about a father and daughter during the father's final weeks. A really fantastic read.
Great reporting on the Trump release of Israeli intelligence to Russian officials and the implications on our surveillance cooperation with Israel. Interesting read.