The greatest task before civilization at present is to make machines what they ought to be, the slaves, instead of the masters of men. —Havelock Ellis, 1922 Economic progress comes from constant innovation in which people race with machines. Human and machine collaborate together in a race to produce more, to capture markets, and to … Read more
Robert Solow earned his Nobel Prize for showing that economic growth does not come from people working harder but rather from working smarter. That means using new technologies and new techniques of production to create more value without increasing the labor, capital, and other resources used. Even a few percentage points of faster productivity growth … Read more
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. —Arthur C. Clarke, 1962 We used to think that computers can outperform people only in tasks like arithmetic, where straightforward rules are followed. That was what the book The New Division of Labor argued. The … truck driver is processing a constant stream of [visual, aural, and … Read more
Economic history teaches that when companies grow, earn profits, and buy equipment, they also typically hire workers. But American companies didn’t resume hiring after the Great Recession ended. The volume of layoffs quickly returned to pre-recession levels, so companies stopped shedding workers. But the number of new hires remained severely depressed. Companies brought new machines … Read more
The phenomenon of Jordan Peterson is a historical accident. As a relatively obscure psychologist from Alberta, Canada, who made a small number of public appearances, few people anticipated his rise to fame. But a few random events, such as the explosion of Youtube as a social media platform, and a law that compelled people to … Read more
Nassim Nicholas Taleb started his career as a trader before making the move to academia. His favorite hobby is blasting pseudo-intellectuals, psychologists, expert forecasters, and any kind of person he considers an intellectual phony, which is most intellectuals. He prefers taxi drivers, craftsman, entrepreneurs. The former have a voice but contribute nothing of substance, the … Read more
1-Sentence Description of Ultralearning by Scott H. Young. The key to good and efficient writing lies in the intelligent organization of ideas and notes. 3 Key Ideas Directness is one of the critical elements of Ultralearning. By applying directness, you learn the skill you need without wasting any time. Let’s take learning a language as … Read more
1-Sentence Description of Make It Stick by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, Mark A. McDaniel Concrete techniques for becoming a more productive learner. 8 Key Ideas 1. Retrieving – Practice retrieving new and old learning. Quiz yourself. 2. Spacing – Space out your retrieval practice, leave time to forget in between practice sessions.3. Interleaving -Alternate working on different problems facilitates spacing … Read more
1-Sentence Description of The Improvement of the Mind by Issac Watts An early text about how to learn, and it was recommended by Faraday, who claimed that it had provided him with the framework and tools he needed for his eventual discoveries. 3 Key Ideas Endow your mind with sound reasoning and good judgment. Think about … Read more
1-Sentence Description of The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin ” Waitzkin tells his remarkable story of personal achievement and shares the principles of learning and performance that have propelled him to the top, twice. 3 Key Ideas 1) Using Adversity There are three critical steps in a resilient performer’s evolving relationship to chaotic situations: … Read more