Ted Chiang is master of speculative fiction and the nine stories are an example of his abilities – not just the imagination, but the ability to articulate it. There is profound insight in all the stories, irrespective of its length, and across multiple streams – from artificial intelligence to free will. An absolute must-read.
An insightful and well-researched book that details how libertarian industrialists like the Koch brothers have (and continue to) systematically undermine America’s democratic system to impose their worldview. In a narrative that starts from the 1940s, it shows how, using the anonymity of charitable organisations, they have penetrated everything from academia to political activism, and have supplanted the Republican Party. A fascinating read.
Industrial capitalism exploited nature and gave us the bounty of comforts we enjoy in the modern era. Surveillance capitalism is exploiting human nature. The consequences are that there is increasingly no refuge, no sanctuary, from the relentless efforts of corporations that are intent on controlling every facet of an individual’s existence. In the current trajectory, it will lead to a further consolidation of wealth and power. Not an easy read, but most definitely a must read.
An amazing book that I recommend to everyone. While the title has “exposing data bias in a world designed for men”, the book does way more than that. In addition to using data and case studies to illustrate that point, it shows how correcting this could lead to better results not just for women, but humanity itself.
Sublime, in terms of writing and characters. When Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov is sentenced to house arrest (“house” here being the Hotel Metropol) on 21st June 1922, it’s difficult to imagine the remaining 400+ pages being anything other than depressing. But the Count is probably a living embodiment of Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, and the story that follows shows “that by the smallest of one’s actions one can restore some sense of order to the world.” An absolutely wonderful read, and in my list of all-time favourites.