The Undoing Project by Michael Lewis, A friendship that changed our minds
By Michael Lewis
(How a Nobel Prize-winning theory of the mind altered our perception of reality)
Two remarkable academic figures Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, two contrasting personalities, and as they came together, they worked as a non-separable single mind and brought us a series of breathtakingly original studies undoing our assumptions of how people think. Their discoveries of systematic bias in human thinking fundamentally change not only the field of psychology but also economics, corporate hiring and medical studies. Michael knit such a beautiful story of their research and friendship over the years, as the two went through dramatic life experiences from Israel to United States, from universities to wars. A very enjoyable and memorable read.
Evicted by Matthew Desmond
This is one of those books that take you face-to-face to very poor people and conditions way outside of your comfort zone. “Evicted” describes vividly the poverty in the American City of Milwaukee and the stories of eight families on the edge; and at the same time the profit of landlords in these inner cities. Poor families, being on the move, not only lose their basic needs of shelter; they also lose jobs, friends and securities and have to overcome the physical and mental scar from the evictions. Without a home, everything falls apart. As the author wrote at the end, “Each one reminds me how gracefully they refuse to be reduced to their hardships. Poverty has not prevailed against their deep humanity”.
These people would soon be forgotten and out of my and many readers’ minds. Until then, I would like to spread the words, remember their stories and take the time to think about how everyone can meet their very basic needs for a shelter. You can learn more about their stories: www.justshelter.org.
Homo Deus – A brief history of tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari.
In the last few hundred years, humankind has turned the forces of nature – namely, famine, plague, into manageable challenges. What will be on the human agenda? What destinies will we set for ourselves?
Would computer technology and genetic engineering push us towards more prowess or the downfall of our species? Is data-ism becoming the religion of our times? And would our relationship with animals model the future relationship between computer and humankind? Would the humankind be at the discretion of the new computer-human hybrids?
The book covers such a breadth and depth of many topics relevant to our life. It entertains, captivates and creates new perspective in our everyday activities. Regardless what your belief is for the history, the technology and the future; or simply your interaction with the smartphones, this book will have something for you to contemplate!
Pope Francis Ted Talk
It is a Ted Talk, and totally worth the few minutes of every one.
“Why the only future worth building includes everyone?”
“Why them, not me?”.
oliviatamccue 
Leave a comment