In the twenty-first century, humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding - and at the same time appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that discovered vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, quack cures and conspiracy theorizing? In Rationality, Pinker rejects the cynical cliché that humans are simply an irrational species - cavemen out of time fatally cursed with biases, fallacies and illusions. After all, we discovered the laws of nature, lengthened and enriched our lives and set the benchmarks for rationality itself. Instead, he explains, we think in ways that suit the low-tech contexts in which we spend most of our lives, but fail to take advantage of the powerful tools of reasoning we have built up over millennia: logic, critical thinking, probability, causal inference, and decision-making under uncertainty. These tools are not a standard part of our educational curricula, and have never been presented clearly and entertainingly in a single book - until now. Rationality matters. It leads to better choices in our lives and in the public sphere, and is the ultimate driver of social justice and moral progress. Brimming with insight and humour, Rationality will enlighten, inspire and empower.
Reads, Listens, Watches
Reading list of books, magazines, newspaper articles, other physical documents, or online posts
Playlist of posts listened to, or scrobbled
Playlist of watched movies, television shows, online videos, and other visual-based events
Playlist of posts listened to, or scrobbled
Playlist of watched movies, television shows, online videos, and other visual-based events
Cathy N. Davidson (Basic Books)Our current system of higher education dates to the period from 1865 to 1925. It was in those decades that the nation's new universities created grades and departments, majors and minors, all in an attempt to prepare young people for a world transformed by the telegraph and the Model T. As Cathy N. Davidson argues in The New Education, this approach to education is wholly unsuited to the era of the gig economy. From the Ivy League to community colleges, she introduces us to innovators who are remaking college for our own time by emphasizing student-centered learning that values creativity in the face of change above all. The New Education ultimately shows how we can teach students not only to survive but to thrive amid the challenges to come.
Cathy N. Davidson (Basic Books)Our current system of higher education dates to the period from 1865 to 1925. It was in those decades that the nation's new universities created grades and departments, majors and minors, all in an attempt to prepare young people for a world transformed by the telegraph and the Model T. As Cathy N. Davidson argues in The New Education, this approach to education is wholly unsuited to the era of the gig economy. From the Ivy League to community colleges, she introduces us to innovators who are remaking college for our own time by emphasizing student-centered learning that values creativity in the face of change above all. The New Education ultimately shows how we can teach students not only to survive but to thrive amid the challenges to come.
Read the last few chapters. Not as strong or useful to me as the opening chapters.
The New Normal: Directed by Bryan Spicer. With Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans, Luke Kleintank, DJ Qualls. Juliana returns home, only to discover new clues that lead her closer to unraveling the mystery behind the films. Meanwhile, Joe faces a tough debriefing upon his return home. Kido begins his investigation into the events surrounding the Crown Prince's speech, while Tagomi and Wegener make a last-ditch attempt to complete their mission.
Revelations: Directed by Michael Rymer. With Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans, Luke Kleintank, DJ Qualls. Joe is increasingly torn between duty and his growing feelings for Juliana. While Ed tries to stop Frank from making an irrevocable decision, Smith's investigation is interrupted when he has trouble with his witness, and Tagomi's plan goes awry as events take a dramatic turn at the Crown Prince's speech.
The Illustrated Woman: Directed by Ken Olin. With Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans, Luke Kleintank, DJ Qualls. Joe and Juliana must act quickly as a vicious bounty hunter known as The Marshal arrives in Canon City. Tagomi makes plans with Wegener to pass valuable secrets from the Reich, and Frank plots his revenge against the Japanese.
The New World: Directed by David Semel. With Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans, Luke Kleintank, DJ Qualls. Joe Blake, a resistance fighter, leaves German New York with cargo for neutral Colorado. In Japanese San Francisco, Juliana Crane receives footage of the Allies winning the war and a bus ticket to Colorado from her sister. There, she meets Joe. Joe reveals a dark secret.
Monday on the NewsHour, we look into the deepening standoff between President Joe Biden and Senate Republicans over raising the debt ceiling. Then, a major oil spill off the coast of Southern California threatens wildlife as crews race to contain the damage. And, the Supreme Court takes on abortion, gun rights and more divisive issues as it starts a new term.
The Ambush: Directed by Douglas Mackinnon. With Michael Nardone, David Maybrick, Antonio Magro, Keeley Hawes. A police convoy escorting a civilian under a witness protection scheme is attacked, the witness hospitalized and all the police officers killed, except Inspector Lindsay Denton, who organized the operation at very short notice and who only informed DCC Dryden of the route. Ted Hastings asks Steve and Kate to interview her but Kate pulls out, claiming one of the dead officers, Jayne Akers, was a friend - though she has been having an affair with Jayne's husband Rich. Her place is taken by Georgia Trotman, who is troubled that the men are savage with their interrogation, treating Lindsay as a suspect and delving into her finances. Lindsay herself is moved to a missing persons unit but is shown to have a violent streak, attacking a noisy neighbour. Kate follows her to the retirement home where her mother lives and finds she has rung the hospital from a payphone. Georgia and Steve attend at the hospital where somebody is trying to kill the witness and who kills Georgia.
Tight opening… I’m already bought into the series, but this is a heck of an opener.
The President Kissed Me: Directed by Michael Uppendahl. With Sarah Paulson, Beanie Feldstein, Annaleigh Ashford, Margo Martindale. Monica reveals to Linda that she is having an affair with the most powerful man in the world.
The Punch: Directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal. With Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis, Maggie Siff, Malin Akerman. The pressure from the US Attorney starts to affect Axe. Chuck uses the past to get the upper hand. And the case against Axe Capital gains a powerful weapon when Connerty turns a member of Axe's inner circle into an informant.
The Deal: Directed by James Foley. With Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis, Maggie Siff, Malin Akerman. Wendy facilitates a deal that hinges on a meeting between Chuck and Axe.
The Good Life: Directed by Neil LaBute. With Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis, Maggie Siff, Malin Akerman. Axe orders his traders to unload their positions, before he unceremoniously disappears. Wags and Wendy struggle to maintain morale. Meanwhile, Chuck intensifies his investigation and sends the FBI to make a surprising arrest.
Short Squeeze: Directed by James Foley. With Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis, Maggie Siff, Malin Akerman. Axe must fend off a short squeeze led by Chuck's father. Chuck learns about the inner workings of Axe Capital, but must also take action against his father for stock manipulation. Axe reckons with a betrayal.
YumTime: Directed by Scott Hornbacher. With Paul Giamatti, Damian Lewis, Maggie Siff, Malin Akerman. Chuck discovers that a rival has made inroads in the Axe case and that he needs to get it back. Meanwhile, Axe makes an activist play for a family owned bakery corporation in a move that reverberates back to Chuck.