DNA

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The Red Queen – Matt Ridley – Summary The Story of the Human Body – Danie F. Lierberman – Summary Why is Sex Fun? – Jared Diamond – Summary Behave – Robert Sapolsky – Summary The Selfish Gene – Richard Dawkins – Summary

The Circadian Code Summary (8.3/10)

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The Circadian Code is about Sleep. Germ theory—and its related breakthroughs of sanitation, vaccination, and antibiotics—was the groundbreaking health development of the past century. It prevents infectious disease and led to the most dramatic rise in longevity in any century in human history. Yet living longer does not always mean living healthier. Chronic diseases of … Read more

Food

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The Omnivore’s Dilemma – Michael Pollen – Summary The Complete Guide to Fasting – Jason Fung – Summary The Longevity Diet – Valter Longo – Summary How Not to Die – Michael Greger – Summary

The Neurotic Personality of Our Time Summary (7.5/10)

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In The Neurotic Personality Of Our Time, Horney discusses the nature of neuroticism and normalcy. What is Normal? One needs to compete with others to acquire power or wealth in society. Competition is difficult on each person, but especially on the neurotic. Despite the happiness that life can offer, the facts of old age, sickness, … Read more

Simulacra and Simulation Summary (7/10)

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In Simulacra and Simulation, Baudrillard produces a theory about cultural materialism. What is the simulacra? It is whatever replaces reality with its representation. The simulacrum is never that which conceals the truth–it is the truth which conceals that there is none. The simulacrum is true. Ecclesiastes Disneyland masks the unreality of modern American society, says … Read more

Superorganisms and Memes

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The idea of the superorganism by Howard Bloom, answers the question posed at the end of this article: Do nations embody the same psychological characteristics as individual human beings do?  According to Bloom, every nation is a superorganism, a cluster of billions of cells, that attempts to gain power, whenever an opportunity presents itself. And … Read more

The Six Roots of Conflict

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What is the root of conflict?  For background, see:  Girard’s Mimetic Theory: The Origin of Conflict Hegel’s The First Man and The Battle for Pure Prestige.  Sigmund Freud thought that all human goals are manifestations of two opposing drives: Eros and Thanatos. He did not think these drives had a progressive character that tended to … Read more

The Battle for Pure Prestige

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Man is a social animal, directed by others, but his sociability does not lead him into a peaceful civil society, because at the root of sociability is conflict. In trying to unmask the root of conflict and desire, I have drawn from the ideas of Rene Girard, Hegel, and Fukuyama. See “Mimetic Theory: The Origin … Read more