The reading collection
Psychology, geopolitics, philosophy—and everything in between.
373 readings · 265–276
Liberals promote free markets and democratic elections because they believe that individuals are unique and valuable, who’s free choices are the source of authority. In this century, we will see three practical…
Law 17: Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability Muhammad Ali* Unpredictability is a potent weapon you can use to rattle your opponents. Human beings are creatures of habit and expect to…
What has worked in the past will not necessarily work in the future. Following the advice of people who were older than you worked better in the past because the world was more stable and predictable.
It’s not strange that misbehaving children exist, or that some misbehaving adults exist. It’s strange that anyone at all is civilized, calm, and well-adjusted rather than being barbaric, drug addicted, and…
“Notes on a Nervous Planet” is a compelling exploration of the link between modern life and rising levels of anxiety, stress, and mental health issues.
Curtis Jackson started dealing drugs when he was 12 years old. One day, after he was given drugs on consignment (he would be given drugs for free and would pay the supplier back a certain amount and pocket the rest),…
It is not an enemy who taunts me–then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me–then I could hide from him. But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend……. My companion…
The build up of tension between the US and Iraq lead to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. The US developed a moral argument for the invasion on the grounds that Iraq was a threat to global security. The UN passed a…
There is a widespread belief that marketers and psychologists have figured out how to hack our brains by using subliminal messages. Some audiotapes claim to improve your sex life, to enlarge a woman’s breasts, and to…
The Syrian uprisings started in 2011 and led to civil war that continues until today in 2019, and has been the cause of one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the century. Syria turned into a warzone for Islamic…
From an evolutionary perspective , it has been advantageous to trust in the knowledge of others. But like other traits that may have worked well in the past but may not be useful today, the illusion of knowledge can…
In Thinking*: The New Science of Decision-Making, Problem-Solving, and Prediction*, edge.org’s John Brockman has put together a collection of essays by some of the top thinkers (psychologists, neuroscientists, and…