The full name of the book is The Black Swan, The Impact of the Highly Improbable. How would his ideas affects you personally? Well, he talks about systems and situations being robust or fragile. For example, if you are up to you eyeballs in debt and something happen, it could cause a catastrophe for you.
If you had your finances well managed and you had an emergency fund, your financial state could be robust and if something unexpectedly side swiped you, you could probably handle it and not have a catastrophe on your hands.
If you do not know the origin of the black swan, I will tell you. All Europeans thought swans were always white, because that is all they had seen. When they went to Australia, they found black swans and this was very unexpected.
One tale of unexpected risks comes from a casino example. Casinos spend millions of dollars on gambling risks. However, a casino’s biggest risk can come, not from gambling, but such things as someone wanting to blow up a casino or from a casino not filling the right tax forms.
He also points out that people generally attributes their success from their skills, but attributes their failures to events outside their control or randomness. He also points out that capitalism destroys large companies but socialism does not. Socialist’s governments tend to protect their monster companies and kill off all potential newcomers in the womb.
A nice short video review of this book (less than 2 minutes) is at YouTube. Another short video that discusses both Fooled by Randomness and The Black Swan is also on YouTube at Papamedia. There is also a 9 minute video with Taleb at Harvard University talking about social problems . See 40 minute interview by Richard Herring at Wharton.
There is a good review at the Guardian. Giles Foden very much loved the first book Taleb wrote called “Fooled by Randomness, however, he feels this book was rushed and badly written. I must say, I very much enjoyed this book, but then I have not yet read Fooled by Randomness. I probably should.
Another review is by a blogger called Grumpy Old Bookman. This review is quite long, but well worth reading.
I found this a very interesting book and Taleb says many very interesting things. However, he is quite full of himself.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb has his own site. This book has an entry on Wikipedia at The Black Swan. There is also an entry for the theory.
On my website is how to find this book on Amazon if you care to purchase it. See Taleb. Also, this book review and other books I have reviewed are on my website at Book Reviews.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Debt by David Graeber
David Graeber, as an anthropologist understood why and how our ancestors stop free riders. As a socialist, he wants more of it today. In what world is a family collecting welfare into the 4th generation is not a free rider? Can we really afford that all these people never contribute to our society? (And ironically now, if you are temporarily destitute now, you get to live on the streets. What sort of progress is this?)
He talks about how we think that virtual money is new. (Virtual money is when you do not pay for things with physical cash, like paying with credit or debit cards.) But this has very long history and was really the original way people dealt with each other in a market place. We had credit systems, kept tabs, even expense accounts before we had cash.
We seem to assume that billion is money, but this idea come and gone through history. History really has switched between periods when money was billion and when money was virtual or an abstraction.. He talks about the vast majority of Mesopotamia’s cuneiform documents were financial in nature. Things were priced in silver, but apparently silver was not in circulation.
Credit goes back a long way. And money is basically an IOU. Money is a measure of trust in other human beings rather than a measure of value.
Another thing he talks about is how markets sprang up around ancient armies. The rise of states and the rise of markets go together. Rather an interesting connection.
Graeber can also go off on tangents. He says that Cortes was murderous because he owed money to banks, and therefore we should blame his actions on capitalism. However, Jinkis Khan was also a murderous bastard with the same sort of followers Cortes had, but it did not do what he did, conquer, rape and pillage because he owed money to banks.
This is rather a long book, but there are all sorts of interesting things Graeber says about early history and anthropology. It is well worth the time to read.
There is a video of David Graeber being interviewed by Charlie Rose. There is also a later one on David Graeber being interviewed because of this book, debt. See Conversations with Great Minds David Graeber on Debt, The 1st 5000 years.
On my website is how to find this book on Amazon if you care to purchase it. See Graeber. Also, this book review and other books I have reviewed are on my website at Book Reviews.
He talks about how we think that virtual money is new. (Virtual money is when you do not pay for things with physical cash, like paying with credit or debit cards.) But this has very long history and was really the original way people dealt with each other in a market place. We had credit systems, kept tabs, even expense accounts before we had cash.
We seem to assume that billion is money, but this idea come and gone through history. History really has switched between periods when money was billion and when money was virtual or an abstraction.. He talks about the vast majority of Mesopotamia’s cuneiform documents were financial in nature. Things were priced in silver, but apparently silver was not in circulation.
Credit goes back a long way. And money is basically an IOU. Money is a measure of trust in other human beings rather than a measure of value.
Another thing he talks about is how markets sprang up around ancient armies. The rise of states and the rise of markets go together. Rather an interesting connection.
Graeber can also go off on tangents. He says that Cortes was murderous because he owed money to banks, and therefore we should blame his actions on capitalism. However, Jinkis Khan was also a murderous bastard with the same sort of followers Cortes had, but it did not do what he did, conquer, rape and pillage because he owed money to banks.
This is rather a long book, but there are all sorts of interesting things Graeber says about early history and anthropology. It is well worth the time to read.
There is a video of David Graeber being interviewed by Charlie Rose. There is also a later one on David Graeber being interviewed because of this book, debt. See Conversations with Great Minds David Graeber on Debt, The 1st 5000 years.
On my website is how to find this book on Amazon if you care to purchase it. See Graeber. Also, this book review and other books I have reviewed are on my website at Book Reviews.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Vanished Kingdoms by Norman Davies
In this book he looks at various European countries that I disappear. This book is a great read. Davies is a great historian and his books can bring history alive for his readers. His views can also be quite unique. He looks at Polish history through a story on the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and talks about USSR through Estonia’s history.
Reading about vanishing countries certainly shows how impermanent our world can be. The most recent country to vanish is the USSR, but it is hardly unique. This book talks about Europe, but there are vanished kingdoms all over the world.
I think that reading such books give you a deeper understanding of history and this book particular gives you a deeper understand of Europe and its people.
There is a great review of this book at Financial Times by Dominic Lieven.
Professor Norman Davies, talks to Toby Clements talks about his new book, Vanished Kingdoms at The Telegraph.
Mel Cooper talks to Professor Norman Davies at Wildwater TV.
On my website is how to find this book on Amazon if you care to purchase it. See Davies. Also, this book review and other books I have reviewed are on my website at Book Reviews.
Reading about vanishing countries certainly shows how impermanent our world can be. The most recent country to vanish is the USSR, but it is hardly unique. This book talks about Europe, but there are vanished kingdoms all over the world.
I think that reading such books give you a deeper understanding of history and this book particular gives you a deeper understand of Europe and its people.
There is a great review of this book at Financial Times by Dominic Lieven.
Professor Norman Davies, talks to Toby Clements talks about his new book, Vanished Kingdoms at The Telegraph.
Mel Cooper talks to Professor Norman Davies at Wildwater TV.
On my website is how to find this book on Amazon if you care to purchase it. See Davies. Also, this book review and other books I have reviewed are on my website at Book Reviews.
Monday, February 13, 2012
The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris
Sam Harris thought that there was a problem that Science has nothing to say on the subject of human values. Harris in this book urges us to think about morality in terms of human and animal well-being. Who can disagree with this as it sounds and is logical.
What I do not like about Sam Harris is that he considers himself on of the new atheist, along with Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. The problem with both Dawkins and Hitchens is that they have made a religion out of atheism. They both strongly believe that “if you do not think like they do you are wrong” (or stupid, you choice).
I strongly believe in free speech. I have never found anyone else that thinks anything like I do. .So, you could see why I really believe in free Speech. You might also see why I have problems with Dawkins’ and Hitchens’ idea of free speech, which is only free as long people say what they should (according to their ideas).
In ending the book, Harris says that science can have something to say about values (because values relate to facts about the well-being of conscious creatures). I agree. However, Harris goes on to say that if you have values that do not relate to the well-being of conscious creatures, he is not interested in hearing from you. Your thoughts could be of no possible interest to anyone. (This is again with the – if you do not think like I do, you are wrong.)
There is a lot to agree with in the book. However, I think that we have only just begun to understand our universe. I do not believe that Dawkins, Hitchens and Harris are men who know all the answers to God, the Universe and all that.
The Globe and Mail has a Book Review where John Horgan dislikes the idea that science can say anything about morality, but likes the religion bashing stuff.
On YouTube, you can find a lecture by Sam Harris on the ideas in his book. It is a little long at almost 2 hours.
On my website is how to find this book on Amazon if you care to purchase it. See Harris. Also, this book review and other books I have reviewed are on my website at Book Reviews.
What I do not like about Sam Harris is that he considers himself on of the new atheist, along with Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. The problem with both Dawkins and Hitchens is that they have made a religion out of atheism. They both strongly believe that “if you do not think like they do you are wrong” (or stupid, you choice).
I strongly believe in free speech. I have never found anyone else that thinks anything like I do. .So, you could see why I really believe in free Speech. You might also see why I have problems with Dawkins’ and Hitchens’ idea of free speech, which is only free as long people say what they should (according to their ideas).
In ending the book, Harris says that science can have something to say about values (because values relate to facts about the well-being of conscious creatures). I agree. However, Harris goes on to say that if you have values that do not relate to the well-being of conscious creatures, he is not interested in hearing from you. Your thoughts could be of no possible interest to anyone. (This is again with the – if you do not think like I do, you are wrong.)
There is a lot to agree with in the book. However, I think that we have only just begun to understand our universe. I do not believe that Dawkins, Hitchens and Harris are men who know all the answers to God, the Universe and all that.
The Globe and Mail has a Book Review where John Horgan dislikes the idea that science can say anything about morality, but likes the religion bashing stuff.
On YouTube, you can find a lecture by Sam Harris on the ideas in his book. It is a little long at almost 2 hours.
On my website is how to find this book on Amazon if you care to purchase it. See Harris. Also, this book review and other books I have reviewed are on my website at Book Reviews.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker
This book’s full title is The Better Angels of Our Nature, Why Violence has Declined. Steven Pinker is an extremely engaging writer. He has written several books, I must admit that they are long, but highly readable.
One of the most interesting things Pinker says is about the “Moralizing Gap”. He says that people think that harm that they inflict to be justified and forgettable. However, they think that the harm they suffer to be unprovoked and grievous. This can explain some long standing disputes between peoples.
One of things he talks about is ideology. The really big body counts in history pile up when a large number of people have a motive than seems to transcend selfishness. With ideology, the end is idealistic. But its ideology that have driven many of the worse things that people have ever done to each other. Just think of the pile of deaths attributable to communists.
Another interesting thing is the rise in crime in the 1960’s. A number of people thought the rise in crime in the 1960’s was because of the 1960’s culture. The relaxation of self-control was glorified. Do your own thing. Let it all hang out. The crime rate started to come done in the 1990’s and it is almost back to where it was in the 1950’s.
You can find Steven Pinker on my favourite video site of www.ted.com. You can hear Steven Pinker give a 20 minute speech on the subject of the myth of violence at TED. This is well worthwhile listening to and does not take long.
Not everyone believes him. You can see this at in a column by Madeleine Bunting in the Guardian. She admits to not reading the book, thinking it is too long. She interviews him at Guardian Videos.
However, this is not the only book I have read on this subject. I have read and reviewed Azar Gat, an anthropologist’s book called War in Human Civilization on my site. Gat’s book is not as well known or as popular, but he also is an engaging writer and well worth reading.
On my website is how to find this book on Amazon if you care to purchase it. See Pinker. Also, this book review and other books I have reviewed are on my website at Book Reviews.
One of the most interesting things Pinker says is about the “Moralizing Gap”. He says that people think that harm that they inflict to be justified and forgettable. However, they think that the harm they suffer to be unprovoked and grievous. This can explain some long standing disputes between peoples.
One of things he talks about is ideology. The really big body counts in history pile up when a large number of people have a motive than seems to transcend selfishness. With ideology, the end is idealistic. But its ideology that have driven many of the worse things that people have ever done to each other. Just think of the pile of deaths attributable to communists.
Another interesting thing is the rise in crime in the 1960’s. A number of people thought the rise in crime in the 1960’s was because of the 1960’s culture. The relaxation of self-control was glorified. Do your own thing. Let it all hang out. The crime rate started to come done in the 1990’s and it is almost back to where it was in the 1950’s.
You can find Steven Pinker on my favourite video site of www.ted.com. You can hear Steven Pinker give a 20 minute speech on the subject of the myth of violence at TED. This is well worthwhile listening to and does not take long.
Not everyone believes him. You can see this at in a column by Madeleine Bunting in the Guardian. She admits to not reading the book, thinking it is too long. She interviews him at Guardian Videos.
However, this is not the only book I have read on this subject. I have read and reviewed Azar Gat, an anthropologist’s book called War in Human Civilization on my site. Gat’s book is not as well known or as popular, but he also is an engaging writer and well worth reading.
On my website is how to find this book on Amazon if you care to purchase it. See Pinker. Also, this book review and other books I have reviewed are on my website at Book Reviews.
Monday, December 26, 2011
The Horse, the Wheel and Language by David Anthony
I love the way this book starts. David Anthony says we should look into a mirror and see not only you but your ancestors. We see not only our own face, but a museum. Although you see your face, it is composed of a collage of features you have inherited from your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and so on.
David Anthony identifies the prehistoric peoples of central Eurasia's steppe grasslands as the original speakers of Proto-Indo-European. This is the Steppes north of the Black and Caspian Seas. This is important because roughly half the world's population speaks languages derived from a shared linguistic source known as Proto-Indo-European.
The Steppes of Eurasia go from Eastern Europe to China. These steppes were changed forever by the horse and the covered wagon. Apparently, there was a Secondary Products Revolution that swept Europe in between 3500 and 3000BCE. This revolution included the plow, wool sheep, dairying and the beginning of horse transportation. The secondary products of this this revolution included items like wool, milk and muscular power than be harvested continuously from an animal without killing it.
This SPR is an economic explanation for widespread changes in settlement patterns, economy, rituals and crafts. Much of this has been ascribed by an older generation of archaeologists to Indo-European migrations.
If you like history and anthropology, this is a great book. It also tells us where our language might have originated from and how we got it.
For a preview of this book, see Princeton University Press. Amazon does have surprisingly good book reviews, but you have to scroll almost to the page bottom to find them. For such a review, see Amazon. Another good review is at Dreamflesh. Plus another one at Thinking Out Aloud.
On my website is how to find this book on Amazon if you care to purchase it. See Anthony. Also, this book review and other books I have reviewed are on my website at Book Reviews.
David Anthony identifies the prehistoric peoples of central Eurasia's steppe grasslands as the original speakers of Proto-Indo-European. This is the Steppes north of the Black and Caspian Seas. This is important because roughly half the world's population speaks languages derived from a shared linguistic source known as Proto-Indo-European.
The Steppes of Eurasia go from Eastern Europe to China. These steppes were changed forever by the horse and the covered wagon. Apparently, there was a Secondary Products Revolution that swept Europe in between 3500 and 3000BCE. This revolution included the plow, wool sheep, dairying and the beginning of horse transportation. The secondary products of this this revolution included items like wool, milk and muscular power than be harvested continuously from an animal without killing it.
This SPR is an economic explanation for widespread changes in settlement patterns, economy, rituals and crafts. Much of this has been ascribed by an older generation of archaeologists to Indo-European migrations.
If you like history and anthropology, this is a great book. It also tells us where our language might have originated from and how we got it.
For a preview of this book, see Princeton University Press. Amazon does have surprisingly good book reviews, but you have to scroll almost to the page bottom to find them. For such a review, see Amazon. Another good review is at Dreamflesh. Plus another one at Thinking Out Aloud.
On my website is how to find this book on Amazon if you care to purchase it. See Anthony. Also, this book review and other books I have reviewed are on my website at Book Reviews.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Freedom in the Ancient World by Herbert Muller
I was attracted to this book by the title. I have read a lot of history, but I never thought of the ancient world having any freedom. However, I guess all movements must start somewhere.
He talks about the Axial Period from 800 to 200 BC. It was in this era, outside of Greece, that there emerged all the basic religious ideas on which man has lived ever since, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Judaism.
He talks about a revolutionary change in mentality in about 6BC, when we start to hear of individuals who were not kings or gods. Such people were Zoroaster, Buddha, Confucius, Leo-Tse Amos, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Home Thales, Salon, Aeschylus, Socrates and Plato.
If you like to read about the ancient world, this is a great book to read to get a different perspective on what was occurring then.
There is a Wikipedia entry for Herbert J. Muller at Muller. For a review of this book, see Professor Carroll Quigley site. Professor Quigley’s main criticism of this book is “Prof. Muller's inability in this work to carry out his special task, the history of human freedom, seems to me to rest on his failure to distinguish between "freedom" (the existence of alternative personal choices in a society) and "liberties" (the existence of a social pattern which permits a man to develop his potentialities).”
This book won a Ralph Waldo Emerson award in 1962. See Wikipedia.
On my website is how to find this book on Amazon if you care to purchase it. See Muller. Also, this book review and other books I have reviewed are on my website at Book Reviews.
He talks about the Axial Period from 800 to 200 BC. It was in this era, outside of Greece, that there emerged all the basic religious ideas on which man has lived ever since, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Judaism.
He talks about a revolutionary change in mentality in about 6BC, when we start to hear of individuals who were not kings or gods. Such people were Zoroaster, Buddha, Confucius, Leo-Tse Amos, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Home Thales, Salon, Aeschylus, Socrates and Plato.
If you like to read about the ancient world, this is a great book to read to get a different perspective on what was occurring then.
There is a Wikipedia entry for Herbert J. Muller at Muller. For a review of this book, see Professor Carroll Quigley site. Professor Quigley’s main criticism of this book is “Prof. Muller's inability in this work to carry out his special task, the history of human freedom, seems to me to rest on his failure to distinguish between "freedom" (the existence of alternative personal choices in a society) and "liberties" (the existence of a social pattern which permits a man to develop his potentialities).”
This book won a Ralph Waldo Emerson award in 1962. See Wikipedia.
On my website is how to find this book on Amazon if you care to purchase it. See Muller. Also, this book review and other books I have reviewed are on my website at Book Reviews.
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