What I'm Reading
The Distracted Mind - Adam gazzaley and Larry D. Rossen
OK, so, I'm actually listening to their AUDIO version of this. Content is INCREDIBLE, narration is super dry. These highly capable researchers at UCSF in California have pulled together wonderful stats, original research, and timely practical solutions to many of the technologically related mental health challenges our cultures face.
Another great listen is Dr. Gazzaley's talk to the Commonwealth Club.
Stealing Fire - How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work
These authors seem well connected and well known in the Silicon Valley world of Startups, Drugs, and Mind-Hacks. They surface many great methods of harnessing more mind power, and make connections between ancient civilizations and modern man.
They tend to emphasize the buzz-word 'flow' which is an effortless state of nearly superhuman capacity.
A fun listen/read! Definitely worth the time.
SNOWCRASH - Neil Stephenson
Such a classic book. Its incredible to listen to this book, and realize it was written in 1992. Neil is super popular geeky sci-fi writer. AND, he is an incredible futurist. He is an advisor to Magic Leap, which is set to come out with a revolutionary new product mid 2018.
With Neil's Advisory, I can only imagine what the potential of their product will be.
Kelly McGonigal is a fantastic researcher, speaker, and author. She reads her own book in this audio version. The general thesis is: Let's re-frame what stress is, how we define stress. By doing so, we can embrace that many stressful activities are actually good for us. Similar to plants that need stressors to make sweeter fruit, us humans need to rub up against things and get our butts kicked sometime to learn and grow.
One of the most impactful aspects of her research is how 'Mindset Interventions' can deeply impact a person's overall health and productivity with long-lasting returns well beyond the 30 minute, one-time suggestion. Powerful!
Ramez Naam really cracked the code with this book. His interest in biotech, connected humanity, and a future containing so many aspects of cultural norms/patterns is stunning. He's a futurist, and a very good story-teller. His approach to painting with words is a fun one. Plenty of violence and martial combat in this Fictional series. A great geeky sci-fi futurist set of books. Audio version makes for some fun and sometimes intense car-rides.