273. Bitcoin Bushido with Aleks Svetski

In 'Sex and Culture', J.D. Unwin examines the relationship between a civilization’s success and the sexuality of its people. He studied 80 primitive tribes and 6 known civilizations over 5,000 years of history and found a positive correlation between cultural achievement and the amount of sexual restraint observed. Unwin argues that societies which impose strict prenuptial and postnuptial sexual restraints tend to achieve higher levels of cultural development, while those that become more sexually liberal experience a decline in their cultural energy and eventual downfall. He categorizes societies into four cultural conditions: zoistic, manistic, deistic, and rationalistic, based on their spiritual and social practices. Unwin also emphasizes the importance of legal equality between men and women and the need for absolute monogamy to maintain a high level of cultural achievement.

In 'Broken Money', Lyn Alden delves into the evolution of money, from ancient forms like shells and gold to modern technologies such as central banks and Bitcoin. The book examines the theoretical foundations and practical implications of various monetary systems, highlighting how technology drives global financial changes. Alden also explores the human impact of money and how new monetary technologies shape societal power structures. The book aims to provide readers with a deep understanding of money's past, present, and potential future, including emerging technologies that could improve the current financial system.