E1121: Mark Suster on investing in human-computer interfaces & sustainability, what he looks for in founders, SPACs impact on early-stage investing & more

Americanah is a story about Ifemelu, a young Nigerian woman who leaves her home and her first love, Obinze, to start a new life in America. The novel explores her struggles with cultural adaptation, racial identity, and the complexities of being a black African in the United States. Meanwhile, Obinze faces his own challenges as an undocumented immigrant in London. The book delves into themes of love, identity, and the African diasporic experience, ultimately leading to a reunion in a newly democratic Nigeria where Ifemelu and Obinze rekindle their passion for each other and their homeland.

In 'Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed', Jared Diamond examines the collapse of past societies, such as the Anasazi, the Maya, and the Norse colonies on Greenland, due to factors like environmental damage, climate change, hostile neighbors, loss of trading partners, and the society's response to these challenges. Diamond argues that environmental concerns are crucial to a society's success and that the way a society responds to its environmental problems is often the decisive factor in its survival or collapse. The book also draws parallels between historical collapses and current global issues, offering practical lessons and solutions to avoid similar catastrophes in the present and future[1][3][5].

In 'Disunited Nations', Peter Zeihan presents counterintuitive arguments about the future of a world where the American-dominated order is ending. He predicts significant shifts in global power dynamics, with countries like France, Turkey, Japan, and Saudi Arabia rising in importance while others like China, Russia, Germany, and Iran decline. Zeihan argues that the collapse of international cooperation will lead to a new era of competing powers and economic systems, and that countries and businesses must adapt to this new 'every-country-for-itself' ethic to survive and thrive. The book emphasizes the roles of geography and demography in shaping the future of nations and global order.