Wiser Than Yesterday: Educational Book Reviews and Summaries

The relationship between language, thought and culture is of concern to anyone with an interest in what it means to be human.The Language Puzzle by Steven Mithen explains how the invention of words at 1.6 million years ago began the evolution of human language from the ape-like calls of our earliest ancestors to our capabilities of today, with over 6000 languages in the world and each of us knowing over 50,000 words.Out of interest in correctness, Sam investigates cultural ideas across other books from Richard Wrangham, Christopher Boem and Yuval Noah Harari to create this tour de force episode on what the hell was going on.Drawing on the latest discoveries in archaeology, linguistics, psychology, and genetics, this episode reconstructs the steps by which language evolved; how it transformed the nature of thought and culture, and how we talked our way out of the Stone Age into the world of farming and swiftly into today's Digital Age.- - -About Wiser PodNico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what.Sam Webster Harris👋 LinkedIn - Sam Harris🧠 Psychology Pod - Growth Mindset Psychology🚀 New Pod - How to Change the WorldNicolas Vereecke👋 LinkedIn - Nico Vereecke🤖 AI world domination - Evil Plan Inc- - -How to Change the World: The History and Future of InnovationAvailable on all podcast players:SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠----CHAPTERS00:00 Little Miracles and Airplanes02:26 Wiser pod Introduction03:32 Framing the Four-Part Journey05:49 The Compression Problem09:30 Act 1 – Cognitive Basis of Language09:30 Biological History of Languages14:27 The Interconnected Brain18:03 Complex Words and Abstract Ideas21:50 Ad Break22:13 Words, Planning, and Teamwork23:10 Act 2 – Gossip, Myths & Religion23:10 Gossip and the Glue of Society26:48 Myths and Shared Delusions31:42 Early Religions, Animism and Cave Art34:39 Act 3 – Self-Domestication34:45 Shame, Blushing, and Human Civility38:10 Invitation to Continue on How to Change the World Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bruce Lee was an intense man with such sheer concentration of energy that no one who encountered him, on screen or in person, could help but be drawn to him and his enthusiasm for life and knowledge.Bruce Lee: Artist of Life explores the development and fruition of Bruce Lee's thoughts about gung fu (kung fu), philosophy, psychology, poetry, jeet kune do, acting, and self-knowledge.Imagine being so annoyingly good at punching people that your dad has to ship you to another continent. That, more or less, is where our story with Bruce Lee begins.Bruce Lee wasn’t born a legend. He built one, habit by habit.This episode breaks down six simple, brutal habits that turned a skinny Hong Kong troublemaker into the most recognisable martial artist on earth. It’s surprisingly copy‑and‑pasteable into a normal life:Turn failure into a feedback loop instead of an identity crisis.Build a simple notebook ritual that actually shapes your decisions.Design one “Bruce Lee hour” a day to practice your craft like it matters.Hit play, and steal Bruce’s operating system, not just his quotes.- - -About Wiser PodNico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what.Sam Webster HarrisLinkedIn - Sam HarrisHistory of Innovation Pod - How to Change the WorldNicolas VereeckeLinkedIn - Nico VereeckeAI world domination - Evil Plan Inc- - -How to Change the WorldSPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠----Chapters00:00 Bruce Lee’s First Boxing Match01:55 Determined to Succeed in Acting02:23 Bruce Lee’s Habits of Success02:57 #1 – Embrace Failure on the Path to Success04:49 #2 – Carry a Notebook Everywhere05:48 #3 – Repeat Goals to Yourself08:41 #4 – Practice Your Craft Constantly10:12 #5 – Constantly Read a Variety of Subjects11:45 #6 – Research and Adapt15:01 Bruce Lee’s Influence After 50 Years15:22 Send Off Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this stunningly original book, Richard Wrangham argues that it was cooking that caused the extraordinary transformation of our ancestors from apelike beings to Homo erectus. At the heart of Catching Fire lies an explosive new idea: the habit of eating cooked rather than raw food permitted the digestive tract to shrink and the human brain to grow, helped structure human society, and created the male-female division of labour. As our ancestors adapted to using fire, humans emerged as "the cooking apes".Covering everything from food-labelling and overweight pets to raw-food faddists, Catching Fire offers a startlingly original argument about how we came to be the social, intelligent, and sexual species we are today.- - -About Wiser PodNico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what.Sam Webster Harris👋 LinkedIn - Sam Harris🧠 Psychology Pod - Growth Mindset Psychology🚀 New Pod - How to Change the WorldNicolas Vereecke👋 LinkedIn - Nico Vereecke🤖 AI world domination - Evil Plan Inc- - -How to Change the World: The History and Future of InnovationAvailable on all podcast players:SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠----Chapters00:00 The Role of Fire in Civilization02:20 Introduction: Who is in control03:55 Fire's Impact on Predators and Prey05:59 First Fire - 500 million years ago09:24 Humans and fire - ~2 million years ago11:36 The Discovery of Fire13:07 When did we discover Fire13:48 Stadium of Grandmothers14:51 Fire's Influence on Human Biology17:22 Fire and Human Digestion19:43 Light and Campfires21:52 Mealtimes23:00 Fire's Role in Human Birth and Survival24:51 Why Only Humans Mastered Fire27:22 Fire, Social Structures & Gender Roles32:42 Role Change in the Information Age34:45 Fire's Role in Human Expansion - 70,000 years ago35:11 Second half of the episode on the new show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is there more chance we'll believe something if it's in a bold type face? Why are judges more likely to deny parole before lunch? Why do we assume a good-looking person will be more competent?The answer lies in the two ways we make choices: fast, intuitive thinking, and slow, rational thinking. This book reveals how our minds are tripped up by error and prejudice (even when we think we are being logical), and gives you practical techniques for slower, smarter thinking. It will enable to you make better decisions at work, at home, and in everything you do.Sam gives a full break down of the main lessons in the book Thinking Fast and Slow. From our system 1 and system 2 thinking to how different biases form and why.To hear about the psychology of biases you can listen to a full season on the Growth Mindset Pod- - -About Wiser PodNico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what.Sam Webster HarrisLinkedIn - Sam HarrisHistory of Innovation Pod - How to Change the WorldNicolas VereeckeLinkedIn - Nico VereeckeAI world domination - Evil Plan Inc- - -How to Change the WorldSPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠----Chapters00:00 Cognitive Biases02:40 System 1 and System 204:05 How both systems Work Together05:31 System 1's Impact on Decision Making07:08 System 1 and Politics10:10 The Teenage Brain and System 2 Development11:14 Cognitive Biases and Their Impact17:20 The Law of Large Number22:15 Prospect Theory and Risk Assessment22:33 The Cookie Analogy: Understanding Loss Aversion23:18 Rationality and Utility Theory in Economics25:16 Prospect Theory: Perception of Value and Risk26:52 Probability and Decision Making29:05 The Experiencing Self vs. The Remembering Self30:53 The Peak-End Rule and Its Impact on Memory34:25 Pleasure vs Satisfaction37:36 The Focusing Illusion: What Really Matters43:17 Final Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Brexit more important than Bitcoin? How do we rank Buddhism vs TikTok?The world changes, technology advances, but what really matters and how much? Sam explains the Innovation Richter Scale, a framework for understanding impact at every level of technology and what it means to society.In Nate Silver's book "On The Edge", he introduces a Technology Richter scale to determine the impact of AI. Sam takes the idea much, much further because it's cool.- - -About Wiser PodNico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what.Sam Webster HarrisLinkedIn - Sam HarrisPsychology Pod - Growth Mindset PsychologyHistory of Innovation Pod - How to Change the WorldNicolas VereeckeLinkedIn - Nico VereeckeAI world domination - Evil Plan Inc- - -How to Change the World: The History and Future of InnovationAvailable on all podcast players:SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-------Chapters00:00 Innovation Richter Scale01:47 Why create a Scale?04:32 Earthquake Metaphor06:54 Invention, Innovation, Technology06:54 Ranking Magnitude not Morality08:01 The Innovation Richter Scale - Level 1 - 1008:04 Level 1 - Shower thoughts08:23 Level 2 - Actioned Idea (In private)08:42 Level 3 - Public ideas (Not popular)10:10 Level 4 - Popular and commercial ideas11:01 Level 5 - Defining Brand12:31 Level 6 - Innovation of the year15:53 Level 7 - Innovation of the Decade18:12 Level 8 - Innovation of the Century21:22 Level 9 - Innovation of the Era23:46 Level 10 - Species Epoch28:24 Wrap up and where to find part 2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The favourite mental models and timeless lessons from Charlie Munger on how to build worldly wisdom.Charlie Munger was the business partner of Warren Buffet and the cofounder of Berkshire Hathaway. The most successful investing company in history. He was obsessed with how ot make better decisions.His book is full of ways to help you be less wrong and how to find an edge where you can perform at your best and minimise risk of losing. From the inversion principle to understanding opportunity cost and your own circle of competence. He has a no nonsense strategy and likeable charm that just oozes credibility and makes you wish you'd spent time working and learning from him.- - -About Wiser Pod 📚Nico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what.Sam Webster Harris👋 LinkedIn - Sam Harris🧠 Psychology Pod - Growth Mindset Psychology🚀 New Pod - How to Change the WorldNicolas Vereecke👋 LinkedIn - Nico Vereecke🤖 AI world domination - Evil Plan Inc- - -How to Change the World: The History and Future of InnovationSPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---Chapters00:00 Poor Charlie's Almanac02:58 Interdisciplinary Thinking05:44 Understanding Circle of Competence06:54 Opportunity Costs in Decision Making07:49 The Inversion Principle10:43 Cognitive Biases Overview11:51 Confirmation Bias and Clear Thinking13:38 Authority Bias and Independent Thought15:30 Social Proof and Individuality16:55 Arguing Against Your Own Beliefs17:37 Critiquing Charlie's Rationality18:10 Lack of Emotion and suspension of belief19:29 Binary thinking and fixed mindset24:35 The Art of Rational Decision Making25:48 First Principles Thinking27:35 Probabilistic Thinking and Risks29:11 The Margin of Safety30:25 Chauffeur Knowledge vs. True Understanding32:40 Applying Mental Models in Real Life33:27 Sharing Wisdom and Building Community34:51 Conclusions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heard enough lame insights about caveman psychology? Jared Diamond goes hard into what life was really like, how we thought and how it compares to today.A masterclass of a book when it comes to truly understanding our history and humanity and packed full of insights.Sam digests the book from a lens of innovation and what the reality of our life meant for taking risks and trying new ideas and making them happen.We cover various tribe studies across the world and the episode is brimming with stories and statistics that will make you think and a little bit Wiser than Yesterday.Part two is available on the How to Change the World: History and Future of Innovation podcast:SpotifyAppleNote - Nico is taking a reading break, and Sam has a season to cover some of his favourite books in depth 🙃- - -About Wiser Pod 📚Nico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what.Sam Webster Harris👋 LinkedIn - Sam Harris🧠 Psychology Pod - Growth Mindset Psychology🚀 New Pod - How to Change the WorldNicolas Vereecke👋 LinkedIn - Nico Vereecke🤖 AI world domination - Evil Plan Inc---Chapters00:00 Intro to The World Until Yesterday02:12 The Hand Axe Conundrum04:05 Episode Goals05:21 1 - SURVIVAL LOCK06:00 Energy requirements08:09 Time Scarcity10:38 Risk and Psychological Safety12:56 2 - CULTURE LOCK14:17 Culture in New Guinea15:16 Results of trying ideas17:01 The Grandmother Hypothesis17:57 Widowhood statistics19:21 Kaulong Tribe Widow killing21:03 Catalhayuk - 1000 years of stasis22:12 3 - KNOWLEDGE LOCK24:18 Losing knowledge25:41 Maths26:28 Communication and Language27:29 Ice Age Picasso Paradox29:30 Wrap up - Book review and teasers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We share the 10 best mental models about innovation from tech titan Jeff Bezos.This episode covers the story of Amazon and some of the incredible shifts it has created on the planet. From the obvious online shopping wave to things like the e-reading industry and audiobooks, web-servers giving us Uber and Netflix, devices like Alexa. We also learn about their failures like the Fire Phone and other things you probably haven't even heard of, Amazon Destinations, anyone?Lessons to think like an innovator and be more decisive:Primitive Thinking - Creating the building blocks that make new thingsReversible and Irreversible Decisions - Can you just try something already instead of overthinking?Day 1 Thinking - The philosophy of never being finishedNote - Nico is taking a reading break, and Sam has a season to cover some of his favourite books in depth.- - -About Wiser PodNico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what.Sam Webster Harris👋 LinkedIn - Sam Harris🧠 Psychology Pod - Growth Mindset Psychology🚀 New Pod - How to Change the WorldNicolas Vereecke👋 LinkedIn - Nico Vereecke🤖 AI world domination - Evil Plan Inc- - -How to Change the World: The History and Future of InnovationSPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠---Chapters00:00 The Everything Store & Jeff Bezos02:53 Thinking in Primitives04:10 Story of AWS06:44 2 Customer Centric Obsession08:25 Working backwards - Why they built Amazon Prime10:23 3 Long Term Thinking11:39 Story - Kindle and e-publishing industry14:21 Willingness to be Misunderstood15:01 Team - Single-Threaded Leadership16:10 Team - Employ and Empower Builders17:15 Culture - Meetings are for Decisions18:15 High Velocity Decision making20:27 Regret Minimisation Framework22:03 Disagree and Commit23:13 Embrace Failure23:56 Total Fails - Fire Phone, Amazon Wallet etc...26:14 Importance of Timing and Competition28:28 Day 1 Thinking31:10 Useful Bonus points31:18 Flywheel effect31:46 Word of Mouth Marketing32:42 Opposing beliefs - Ignoring vs Crushing Competition34:51 Opposing Beliefs - Stubborn and Flexible35:22 Wrap up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every investment plan under the sun is, at best, an informed speculation of what may happen in the future, based on a systematic extrapolation from the known past.Same as Ever reverses the process, inviting us to identify the many things that never, ever change.Morgan Housel wrote this to be a master class on optimizing risk, seizing opportunity, and living your best life. But does he achieve it?We break down the best ideas and mental models he shares and how they could be applied in your life.- - -About Wiser PodNico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what.Sam Webster Harris👋 LinkedIn - Sam Harris🧠 Psychology Pod - Growth Mindset Psychology🚀 New Pod - How to Change the WorldNicolas Vereecke👋 LinkedIn - Nico Vereecke🤖 AI world domination - Evil Plan Inc- - -How to Change the World: The History and Future of InnovationAvailable on all podcast players:SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- - -Chapters00:00 Welcome to The Wiser Than Yesterday Podcast00:07 Life Updates: New Locations and Busy Schedules00:07 Book Review: Same as Ever by Morgan Hausel01:06 Understanding the Lindy Principle01:45 Human Behavior and the Lindy Principle02:24 Key Takeaway: Progress is Hard to See03:26 The Impact of Evolution on Human Perception06:40 The Risks We Don't See07:17 The Role of Luck in Success12:34 Happiness and Expectations15:06 Balancing Stress and Relaxation19:08 The Influence of Your Social Circle24:02 The Impact of Age in Professional Hockey24:58 The Role of Private Tutoring in Education25:37 The Influence of Cohorts on Success27:12 Permanent vs. Expiring Information29:35 Books vs. Podcasts: A Debate38:13 The Value of Taste and Enthusiasm40:06 Book Review and Final Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A philosophical discussion on part 2 of the Three-Body Problem series, The Dark Forest by Liu Cixin.We ponder different answers to Fermi's paradox and how we'd deal with different levels of intelligence in the Universe. This of course requires pondering how different levels of intelligent beings might deal with us.We also ponder at large adaptions of books into screenplays, why writers change the races of original characters and a lot of interesting stuff about aliens, the Universe and the space-time continuum.- - -Wiser Than YesterdayNico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what.Sam Webster Harris👋 LinkedIn - Sam Harris🧠 Psychology Pod - Growth Mindset Psychology🚀 New Pod - How to Change the WorldNicolas Vereecke👋 LinkedIn - Nico Vereecke🤖 AI world domination - Evil Plan Inc- - -How to Change the World: The History and Future of InnovationAvailable on all podcast players:SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Can't find it on your player?RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- - -Chapters00:00 Introduction and Catching Up01:06 Discussing 'The Dark Forest' Book04:56 The Dark Forest Theory Explained07:42 Philosophical Questions on Alien Life12:33 Speculations on Alien Discoveries13:50 Advanced Civilizations and Human Progress16:35 Exploring the Concept of Lying in the Book16:59 Humanity's Advantage Over the Tri Laurens17:10 The Dark Forest Theory17:52 Intra vs. Interspecies Communication19:31 The Impact of Truth on Society22:02 Philosophical Musings on Lying24:37 Lessons from the Book28:23 Humanity's Overcommitment to Goals31:24 Breaking Rules and Asking for Forgiveness34:09 Final Thoughts and Book Rating Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.