Talks at Google

What is it about Star Trek that has proved so durable - not to say indestructible? Over half a century after its unpromising beginnings, how and why has Star Trek expanded and captured the imaginations and hearts of so many adherents, many of whom have gone onto distinguished careers in space exploration, working for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Nasa, SpaceX, and Blue Origin? In 1981, Nicholas Meyer was something less than a true believer when he was asked to direct the troubled second Star Trek film, The Wrath of Khan. Already a bestselling author and successful director, he had never been a fan of the TV series. But as he began to ponder the appeal of Kirk & Spock's adventures, he realized that their story was a classical nautical tale transplanted into space - armed with that insight, he set out on his mission: to revitalize Star Trek. Originally published in April of 2019. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Most of us eat three meals a day, plus a smattering of snacks, because we think that's the normal, healthy way to eat. Mark Mattson's book, "The Intermittent Fasting Revolution," argues why that's not the case. The human body and brain evolved to function well in environments where food could be obtained only intermittently. When we look at the eating patterns of our distant ancestors, we can see that periods of fasting are normal—and eating three meals a day is not. In "The Intermittent Fasting Revolution", prominent neuroscientist Mark Mattson shows that intermittent fasting is not only normal but also good for us; it can enhance our ability to cope with stress by making cells more resilient. It also improves mental and physical performance and protects against aging and disease. Intermittent fasting is not the latest fad diet; it doesn't dictate food choice or quantity. It doesn't make money for the pharmaceutical, processed food, or health care industries. Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that includes frequent periods of time with little or negligible amounts of food. It is often accompanied by weight loss, but, Mattson says, studies show that its remarkably beneficial effects cannot be accounted for by weight loss alone. Mattson describes the specific ways that intermittent fasting slows aging; reduces the risk of diseases, including obesity, Alzheimer's, and diabetes; and improves both brain and body performance. Moderated by Sanders Kleinfeld. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Journalist Annie Jacobsen visits Google to discuss her book "The Pentagon's Brain: An Uncensored History of DARPA, America's Top-Secret Military Research Agency". Ms. Jacobsen has written the first history of the Defense Department's most secret, most powerful, and most controversial military science research & development agency. She draws on inside sources, exclusive interviews, private documents, and declassified memos to paint a picture of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, from its Cold War inception in 1958 to the present. Annie Jacobsen is an investigative journalist and bestselling author who writes about war, weapons, U.S. national security and government secrecy. Her 2011 non-fiction bestseller, AREA 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base, has been published in five languages and is being made into an AMC scripted television series. Her 2014 non-fiction bestseller, OPERATION PAPERCLIP: The Secret Intelligence Program That Brought Nazi Scientists to America, has been published in five languages and is being adapted for television. Originally published in October of 2015. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Fatima Al-Banawi visits Google to discuss her career and her project entitled The Other Story, a collection of real life stories and personal narratives from locals and visitors to her hometown of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. These collections enter the social arena through storytelling to highlight our shared humanity and to record the eclectic voices of a specific place and time in history. Fatima Al-Banawi is an internationally acclaimed actress, filmmaker, and writer with a masters degree from Harvard university. She believes in the power of storytelling as a way to channel vulnerable and intimate conversations, which helped her to earn the title of the 2018 Next Generation Leader by Time Magazine. In 2016, she became internationally recognized for her debut in the award winning Saudi feature film, Barakah Meets Barakah, which helped pave the way for Saudi Arabian cinema. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union voted Pluto out of planethood. Far from the sun, tiny, and eccentric in orbit, it's a wonder Pluto has any fans. Yet during the mounting debate over Pluto's status, Americans rallied behind this extraterrestrial underdog. The year of Pluto's discovery, Disney created the iconic cartoon puppy by the same name, and, as one NASA scientist put it, Pluto was "discovered by an American for America." Pluto is entrenched in our cultural, patriotic view of the cosmos, and famed astrophysicist and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson is on a quest to discover why. Perhaps only Tyson can tell this story: he was involved in the first exhibits to demote Pluto, and consequently, Pluto lovers have freely shared their opinions with him, including endless hate mail from third graders. In his typically witty way, Tyson explores the history of planet classification and America's obsession with the "planet" that's recently been judged a dwarf. Originally published in February of 2009. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Dr. Myron Rolle visits Google to discuss his book "The 2% Way: How a Philosophy of Small Improvements Took Me to Oxford, the NFL, and Neurosurgery". This book tells the story of his incredible journey, revealing how a strong work ethic, deep faith, and the family values instilled by his Bahamian immigrant parents set the stage for the transformative life philosophy that enabled him to overcome adversity, defy expectations, and create a life of meaning and purpose. Not long ago, Myron L. Rolle was a college football player recruited by the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He faced a kind of hyper-successful future that most children only dream about—especially a kid who had to fight stereotypes at every turn. But he had different dreams. He had trained his whole life to win big in both football and medicine. The sports world had difficulty understanding his intellect and the medical world had difficulty grasping his passion for neurosurgery and football. Both require a kind of diligence that borders on fanaticism. Now, as a Harvard neurosurgeon, Dr. Rolle is on the frontlines facing off against his latest opponent, COVID-19. We are clearly not going to eradicate the virus overnight, but if we use THE 2% WAY, we are certain to overcome this powerful adversary. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset. In her book, she shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. People with a fixed mindset—those who believe that abilities are fixed—are less likely to flourish than those with a growth mindset—those who believe that abilities can be developed. Mindset reveals how great parents, teachers, managers, and athletes can put this idea to use to foster outstanding accomplishment. In her book, "Mindset", Dweck offers new insights into her now famous and broadly embraced concept. She introduces a phenomenon she calls false growth mindset and guides people toward adopting a deeper, truer growth mindset. She also expands the mindset concept beyond the individual, applying it to the cultures of groups and organizations. With the right mindset, you can motivate those you lead, teach, and love—to transform their lives and your own. Originally published in July of 2015. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Alan Murray visits Google to discuss his book "Tomorrow's Capitalist: My Search for the Soul of Business", a frontline report on the business revolution that is transforming much of the corporate world. "Tomorrow's Capitalist" reveals how corporate CEOs—the ultimate pragmatists—realized how critical it is that they confront the fundamental issues of our time: climate, diversity and inclusion, inequality, and workforce opportunity, in response to their employees and customers who are demanding corporate change. Narratives about the failures of capitalism, the greed of the 1% and the blindness of corporations to public need have made their mark and are driving change. These aren't the superficial cosmetic fixes that have generated cynicism in the past, but a revolution in the way corporations are imagined and run. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman visits Google to discuss his book "Thinking, Fast and Slow." In this Talk, Kahneman takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we think - System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. Kahneman exposes the extraordinary capabilities—and also the faults and biases—of fast thinking, and reveals the pervasive influence of intuitive impressions on our thoughts and behavior. Imagine things such as, the impact of loss aversion and overconfidence on corporate strategies; the difficulties of predicting what will make us happy in the future; the challenges of properly framing risks at work and at home; the profound effect of cognitive biases on everything from playing the stock market to planning the next vacation—each of these can be understood only by knowing how the two systems work together to shape our judgments and decisions. Kahneman's book reveals where we can and cannot trust our intuitions and how we can tap into the benefits of slow thinking. He offers practical and enlightening insights into how choices are made in both our business and our personal lives—and how we can use different techniques to guard against the mental glitches that often get us into trouble. "Thinking, Fast and Slow" will transform the way you think about thinking. Originally published in November of 2011. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Annie Murphy Paul visits Google to discuss her book "The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain". The book discusses how we can tap the intelligence that exists beyond our brains—in our bodies, our surroundings, and our relationships. "Use your head" - that's what we tell ourselves when facing a tricky problem or a difficult project. But a growing body of research indicates that we've got it exactly backwards. What we need to do, says Annie Murphy Paul, is think outside the brain. Her book, "The Extended Mind," outlines the research behind this exciting new vision of human ability, exploring the findings of neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, and psychologists, and examining the practices of educators, managers, and leaders who are already reaping the benefits of thinking outside the brain. "The Extended Mind" offers a dramatic new view of how our minds work, full of practical advice on how we can all think better. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.