#749: Michael Lewis and Martine Rothblatt

285 snips

Jun 25, 2024

Guest

Martine Rothblatt

Guest

Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis, a bestselling author known for hits like Moneyball, shares insights on his leap from Wall Street to writing, emphasizing lessons learned about success and ambition. Martine Rothblatt, a biotechnology pioneer and advocate for organ transplantation, discusses her journey to save her daughter and the ethical implications of genetic research. They explore the intersection of technology and humanity, the value of mentorship in creativity, and the potential of digital consciousness in our future.

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ANECDOTE

Quitting Salomon Brothers

Michael Lewis quit his well-paid job at Salomon Brothers to pursue writing.
He wrote under a pseudonym, Diana Bleeker, and was later offered a book deal.

INSIGHT

Liar's Poker Misinterpretation

Liar's Poker, intended as a cautionary tale, was misinterpreted as a how-to guide.
Readers may interpret a book differently from the author's intent.

INSIGHT

Ambition and Self-Satisfaction

Michael Lewis finds overt ambition, especially when tied to money, off-putting.
He prioritizes maximizing self-satisfaction derived from creating great work.

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Liar's poker

Michael Lewis

Liar's Poker is a non-fiction, semi-autobiographical book that details Michael Lewis's three-year tenure at Salomon Brothers, one of Wall Street's premier investment firms in the 1980s. The book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the culture of bond traders, highlighting the frat-boy camaraderie, killer instincts, and high-stakes games of bluffing and deception. Lewis describes the creation and use of mortgage bonds, the excessive bonuses, and the ruthless competition among traders. The narrative also touches on the author's disillusionment with the industry, leading to his resignation and transition into financial journalism.

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

Thomas Kuhn

In 'The Structure of Scientific Revolutions', Thomas S. Kuhn argues that scientific progress does not occur through a gradual accumulation of facts, but rather through periodic revolutions that disrupt existing paradigms. Kuhn introduces the concept of 'normal science' and 'revolutionary science', where normal science involves puzzle-solving within an established paradigm, and revolutionary science involves a paradigm shift that fundamentally changes the way scientists view the world. He explains that these revolutions are driven by the accumulation of anomalies that cannot be explained by the current paradigm, leading to a crisis and eventually a new paradigm that offers a different perspective and new ways of conducting research[1][3][5].

Stranger in a Strange Land

Robert A. Heinlein

The novel tells the story of Valentine Michael Smith, a human born on Mars and raised by Martians after the deaths of the crew of the first mission to the planet. When Michael is brought back to Earth as an adult, he struggles to understand human behavior and culture. With the help of characters like Gillian Boardman and Jubal Harshaw, Michael navigates human society, critiques its institutions, and eventually starts his own movement, the 'Church of All Worlds.' The novel explores themes of individual liberty, self-responsibility, and challenges to traditional social and religious norms. It is known for its complex characters, philosophical discussions, and its impact on the science fiction genre and the counterculture movement of the late 1960s[2][3][5].

Parable of the Sower

Octavia Butler

Published in 1993, 'Parable of the Sower' is a dark and vivid portrayal of a future where global climate change and economic crises have led to social chaos. The story is told through the diary entries of Lauren Olamina, a 15-year-old Black girl living in a gated community near Los Angeles. Lauren suffers from hyperempathy, a condition that makes her feel the pain and pleasure of others. As her community is destroyed by external threats, Lauren embarks on a perilous journey north, developing a new faith called Earthseed along the way. Earthseed's central doctrine is that 'God is Change' and cannot be resisted, but can be influenced. The novel explores themes of survival, faith, family, hope, and community in a world torn apart by environmental devastation, economic collapse, and violence.

The 4 Hour Workweek

Timothy Ferriss

In 'The 4-Hour Workweek', Timothy Ferriss presents a step-by-step guide to 'lifestyle design', encouraging readers to question the traditional notion of retirement and instead create a lifestyle that prioritizes freedom, adventure, and personal growth. The book teaches how to outsource life tasks, automate income, and eliminate unnecessary work using principles like the 80/20 rule and Parkinson’s Law. Ferriss shares his personal journey from a corporate workaholic to a location-independent entrepreneur and provides practical tips and case studies to help readers achieve similar results. The book emphasizes the importance of focusing on high-value activities, taking 'mini-retirements', and living life to the fullest in the present rather than deferring enjoyment until retirement.

Virtually Human

Martine Rothblatt

Ralph Steadman

Ray Kurzweil

Virtually Human delves into the concept of cyberconsciousness, where human consciousness is simulated using software and computer technology, potentially allowing for digital immortality. The book examines the ethical implications of this technology and features Bina48, a sentient robot created as a mindclone of Martine Rothblatt's wife. It discusses the potential societal and legal impacts of such advancements.

The emotion machine

Mercedes García Garmilla

Marvin Minsky

In 'The Emotion Machine', Marvin Minsky argues that emotions are not separate from rational thinking but are different ways to think, enhancing our intelligence. He discusses how emotions help us deal with various problems and how they are crucial for creating a truly intelligent artificial mind. The book also delves into the challenges of modeling human behavior in AI systems.

The No Book

A blueprint for how to get everything you want by saying no to everything you don't

Neil Strauss

Tim Ferriss