Ugh rolls eyes, my mom was right to recommend this one. It actually is a really good book, and the best I’ve read so far when talking about how to parent emotion.
** OK, Boomer** “The Loom of Time” presents itself as a work of meta-history, ambitiously attempting to weave a narrative that connects the thoughts of historical giants like Gibbon and Said. In an era where brand names no longer guarantee widespread readership, Kaplan’s execution doesn’t stick. The author’s approach to discussing historical debate, particularly the one between Bertrand Russell and Edward Said, comes across as ill-conceived and is indicative of a broader issue within the text. The author feels misaligned with the depth of understanding one might expect from a writer dealing with such esteemed intellectuals. This sense of disconnect is further exacerbated by the author’s own admission of a lack of intimate knowledge of the regions under discussion. Acknowledging neither residency in the concerned areas nor proficiency in the relevant languages, it’s as if Kaplan takes pride in his ignorance. ...
The ‘Age of Wood’ delves into the realms of chemistry, biology, and the intricate art of woodworking. The book offers a surprising amount of insight into archaeology and prehistory, shedding light on wood’s ‘rooted’ significance during the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages. It details various woodworking techniques like dovetail and a lifetime supply of mortise-and-tenon joints, as well as the hygroscopic nature of wood and its propensity to combust. While some might find it a bit sappy with its extensive discussions on wood properties and drying processes, it remains a compelling read for those who truly pine for depth in the subject. Overall, a solid four stars.
The world according to China according to the Washington Consensus. Good info on Huawei, makes me want to write a book on the subject.
Precedent for Unprecedented Just because the author doesn’t understand history, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. There were substantial technological innovations before, and none of them happened in a year.
** 剧情盔甲后的很 (The Plot Armor is Too Thick) ** 在第一个阶段，Talon的家和朋友都被灭门了。所以在这个故事中他好像一块白板，他的性格可以为了剧情的需求而改变。 绝大部分的故事是描述Talon经过秘密社团的培训：怎么用剑、怎么做菜、怎么做爱、怎么感觉到魔法的反应、怎么模仿王室成员等等。他开始用这些能力的时候，只有几个章节描述他怎么用他的百花齐放能力。 不过，我喜欢读关于学习的书，因为这个故事类似于自己的生活。 在这本书的后面，最让人感到麻烦的方面是Talon看起来无敌的。他的剧情盔甲太厚了。 ** 2023的第94书 **
Perhaps the most vapid business book i’ve read, or is it the most staid fashion book? Not sure..
Useful, by the numbers, book on creating sales teams. I probably should have done this when creating my leasing team.
A GPT recommendation. This one somewhat surprising because of the low following and seeming limited connection to artificial intelligence, but I leaned some nice things about memory and the neocortex.
**Google OpenAI and the Red Sea ** Published in 2005, John Battelle chronicles the rise of Google among a sea of competitors in a year when Google was worth around $23 billion in market capitalization. Now, with a value exceeding $1.6 trillion and a workforce of over 100,000, the influence of Google on modern society is undeniable. The narrative of Google is surprisingly relevant considering its age. Google was able to beat out what was then a red-sea of competitors by combining a reticence to monetize (many competitors were monetizing via a portal/banner ad strategy), an emphasis on maximizing user value through a clean UI, better search results, and a willingness to accept false positives when it came to prioritizing users over businesses. The pot of gold at the end of this path was bigger than almost anybody realized, and many of John Battelle’s ‘what-if’ scenarios are now functioning companies like Vivino and applications of Google Maps. ...