The Externalities of Civilization Actually Help Us

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I'm a fan of Ian McEwan and his most recent book is Lessons. Early in the novel, he takes a man's story from when he was a kid, seven, eight,. All the way up into his late 70s. So you might love the book. If you're a fan of his, it's one of his better. I think the fact that the externalities of civilization actually help us is quite highly underrated.

Rohit is a VC and essayist who writes fascinating, thought-provoking essays on complexity, progress, innovation and technology over at Strange Loop Canon. He joins the show for a second time to discuss the lessons learned from the FTX meltdown, why there isn’t a philosophy of business, creating an AI picture book, and a whole lot more. Important Links:

Show Notes:

What can VCs learn from FTX?
FTX, hubris and good manners
“Don’t let anyone push you into a decision that you don’t want to make”
Signing up to the right narratives
Why you can’t beat the market
Why isn’t there a philosophy of business?
Markets, desire and innovation
How AI allows us to talk to machines in our language
The complexities of the AI sentience debate
How AI unlocks new outlets for creativity
The need for positive stories
The three components of innovation
“Curiosity is a shit starter”
Finding new ways to create community
Openness and experimentation
MUCH more!

Books Mentioned:

What Works on Wall Street: A Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O’Shaughnessy
The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom
Unflattening; by Nick Sousanis
Slouching Towards Utopia: An Economic History of the 20th Century; by Brad DeLong
American Gods; by Neil Gaiman
Lessons: A Novel; by Ian McEwan