What I Am Reading:
Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life
"Sutherland, the legendary Vice Chairman of Ogilvy, uses his decades of experience to dissect human spending behavior in an insanely entertaining way. Alchemy combines scientific research with hilarious stories and case studies of campaigns for AmEx, Microsoft and the like. This is a must-read." —Entrepreneur.
Should you confront your worries or try to banish them?
If you have a distressing thought, shoving it out of your mind will only work for so long. It will camp out in the unconscious, biding its time until it can emerge again, often through physical sensations, behaviors, emotions or dreams.
The Bitcoin Rapture: Cypherpunk Eschatology and the Crypto
As currency dematerialized from physical tokens into institutional notes and fiat abstractions, money transitioned from tangible icons into virtual ledgers controlled by governments and financiers. This disembodiment accelerated after 1971 when Nixon severed the dollar’s ties to gold, unshackling it from the material realm into encrypted data flowing through proprietary software overseen by a Banking-Industrial-Regulatory Complex.
There might be something called 'super diamonds' in space, a supercomputer says
Diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring material on Earth, but a supercomputer just modeled stuff that’s even harder. Called a “super-diamond,” the theoretical material could exist beyond our planet — and maybe, one day, be created here on Earth.
What I am Watching:
This Investor Raised Billions by Making Complicated Ideas Simple
Want to build influence with great ideas and simple writing? Look no further than Howard Marks. Most smart people use big words and plastic jargon to reinforce the barrier between themselves and “the common folk.” Howard, on the other hand, breaks down this barrier, and that’s why his ideas are so influential (and why he’s Warren Buffett’s favorite author). Ironically enough, simple writing is the hardest to master. Einstein once said that there are four types of intelligence: “bright, brilliant, genius, and simple.” In this episode, you’ll hear how Howard turns decades of investment expertise into clear, simple language.
What is a Family Office and Why Does it Matter? by Ron Diamond
There are roughly 15,000 Family Offices around the globe which currently control approximately $10 trillion in assets. In comparison, there is only $6.5 trillion globally in the entire hedge fund world. But even more important than the size Family Offices currently are, we are about to experience the largest transfer of wealth in history. It is estimated that approximately $84.4 trillion is being transferred from the baby boomers to the next generation over the next 20 years.
What I am Listening To:
The River and the Silence - by Frederik Gieschen
Leaving the wasteland demands a price we don’t think we can afford: time in a space of sacred stillness. Time spent doing nothing but listening, observing, being present. This is a time that doesn’t look productive, that doesn’t have economic value, and that does not entertain us. This time doesn’t create, doesn’t earn, and doesn’t make for content to impress others. Any attempt to capture it ruptures its fabric, destroys its magic.
Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy with Cyan Banister
Cyan’s life story is remarkable. She was homeless at a young age, dropped out of high school, and five years ago she suffered an extremely rare stroke. Yet, in spite of everything, she is one of the most optimistic and curious people you can hope to meet. Cyan is also one of the great angel investors of this era, having invested early in SpaceX, Uber, Postmates, and Deepmind to name a few winners. She became the first female investing partner at Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund and now invests at Long Journey Ventures.
