The Elephant in the Brain by Robin Hanson and Kevin Simler
Get the book. Made You Think episode. Read my notes.
“We, human beings, are a species that’s not only capable of acting on hidden motives—we’re designed to do it. Our brains are built to act in our self-interest while at the same time trying hard not to appear selfish in front of other people.”
“The Elephant in the Brain” is all about how we have unspoken underlying motives to our actions that don’t make us look great, but that give a rational explanation for why we do seemingly irrational things.
Interesting section: One application of the concepts of the book was to college, and the authors explain how if Harvard (and other universities) actually cared about education, they would franchise and be less exclusive. Since they don’t, it suggests these schools care more about prestige and signaling than about educating.
The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch
Get the book. Made You Think episode. Read my notes.
“Everything that is not forbidden by laws of nature is achievable, given the right knowledge.”
The core premise of “The Beginning of Infinity” is that all problems are soluble given enough knowledge, assuming they don’t violate the laws of physics. It’s an optimistic look at how our future might unfold through technology and science, and how we will always be at the beginning of an infinity of future knowledge and development.
Interesting section: One section from the book explores memetics, and how the growth of society requires a flexibility and openness to new memes to replace the old, whereas a static society with fixed memes can never advance. You can apply it personally, too.