Alex Economu

Excellent book and great narration

Revisado: 08-18-24

Author does an amazing job of blending science, history, business, and geopolitics into one fascinating narrative. Narrator is also excellent.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

“Why you’re already a socialist”

Revisado: 12-25-19

A vague book, albeit with much of the same humor and wit you would typically find in a current affairs article. First couple chapters can be completely skipped over as it’s mostly just Robinson talking about how he came to his political philosophy - not extremely enlightening or exciting to read.

The rest of the book can sort of be summed up by this reviews title. He makes the case that if you’re not a moral monster - that is, if you want people to have healthcare and happiness, then you’re already a socialist. Rather than spell out how a successful socialist libertarian government would be structured, he opts for fleshing out the moral perspective of a good socialist.

He often pits the worst capitalist arguments/personalities (Ben Shapiro) against the best and most respected socialist thinkers, making it seem like the only coherent choice is to be a socialist. He rarely “steel mans” a non-horrifying case for capitalism, even when he thinks he is.

Rather than answer something like “who should control the means of production in a functional socialist society”, he opts for describing the varied perspectives within socialist thought. You are left wondering at the end of this book, if I am a socialist, then what the hell do I believe? Robinson would say that he has deeply described the moral philosophy and outlook of a proper socialist, but what people like me often want is a specific case for how innovation and wealth creation can coincide with collective/labor owned companies as the driving force. Is their any role for traditional profit motive in Robinson’s perfect socialist future? Is everything just a co-op like REI? Does government own the means of production? Why does socialism so reliably coincide with autocracy? You won’t find satisfying answers to those questions here.

With that being said, it’s a funny book and Robinson narrates it well with his characteristic lovable-smugness shining through. However, all in all, I would recommend something else entirely if you want to understand specific implications of socialist thinking.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 29 personas

An argument for race consciousness in order to dismantle unconscious bias

Revisado: 11-24-19

This book, to some, will seem extremely divisive, racialized, and problematic. To others it will validate and expand on their views about social justice and race and how to dismantle ones inherent racism/bias. I used it as a window into the ideology of anti racism, the vernacular, and to get a better idea of their argument for more racial awareness in order to mitigate racism.

Overall I found the book enlightening but not at all convincing. It is filled with straw man arguments against “ideologies of individualism and color blindness”. No doubt the author would find my opposition as yet another example of socialized racism, but then this is one of the books primary premises - that all aspects of reality we care about are infected with white supremacy and racial discrimination. Her argument for this fact is not terribly convincing, but no doubt many will see it as self evident.

The book uses unique definitions for everyday words, like “racism” itself, which the book defines not as an act but as a system of white supremacy. This will serve to clarify the authors point, but to confuse many of its messages, as even the author at times resorts to the common usage of the term.

Ultimately, though, I think the book is important to read. There are serious points that are made throughout the madness, and many of these topics are vitally important in 2019. It’s tragic flaw, IMO, is that this book reifies race in a way that I think is counterproductive to fighting bias, not constructive, though good people can disagree on this point.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A deep examination of the theological evolution of Jesus’ divinity

Revisado: 06-10-19

This book focuses exclusively on the theological evolution/significance of Jesus’ divinity from his lifetime until council of Nicea. This narrow scope allows him to get deep into the topic as he explains the cultural/historical context of Jesus’ age, as well as how disciples/later followers of Jesus would typically have understood terms like “son of God” or “son of man”. Ehrman goes into some of his usual topics here (historical assessment of miracles, some textual criticism, etc). Eventually Ehrman gets deep into the Trinity, attempting to explain how many of the most famous apologists were thinking about this phenomenon, and how their views of orthodoxy have changed over time.

Ultimately Ehrman makes the case that Jesus’ divinity was understood differently to different people in different eras with unique theological and political motivations. He was the apocalyptic preacher messiah to his disciples and God himself to later evangelists. One of my favorite reads from an author who already had such a high bar. Narrator has a slightly boring voice, but articulates most of it pretty well. You get past it quickly.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Automation, UBI, and the meaning of work

Revisado: 04-23-19

Yang gives a compelling account of why automation is one of the most politically, socially, and morally important issues of our time. The first part of the book is his case for why an age of automation is different than previous eras of technological progress. In the second part he explains how market incentives are misaligned with our moral objectives, and the impact work on ones well-being. The third bit is his pitch for UBI and human capitalism. Personal stories are sprinkled in here and there, and he makes a strong case for importance of family. A good, quick read, and helpful to anybody who wants to know Yangs platform in depth.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

One of my favorites from Ehrman

Revisado: 12-24-18

Even having read many Bart Ehrman books, for some reason this is one I keep coming back to. As the title suggests, it is less about textual criticism and more about the contradictions between the gospels, letters, and old/new testaments. It's a perfect place to pick up after Misquoting Jesus, and might even be best enjoyed with that as a prerequisite. As always Ehrman is extremely fair and sensitive to the fact that these are holy texts for many people, and even though I am not a believer I Imagine this would be very interesting and pertinent to somebody who takes these texts seriously.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

A look at iGen, ‘safetyism’, and the polarization of campus

Revisado: 12-21-18

This is a very interesting and convincing account, using “six explanatory threads”, of how a new generation of college students (iGen) is changing the culture of campus and politics. It’s not a book for iGen people, as I imagine they’d find his writing patronizing, but rather for us slightly older people who are puzzled by the new posture on the left. Unlike the IDW and right wing pundits commenting on campus culture, Haidt takes the claims of these students seriously and attempts to avoid arguing against the straw man.

There’s a way in which you could interpret parts of the book to be saying “if you think positively about your oppression you’ll feel much better!”, and even though I think that’s not his argument it’s easy to see how his prescriptions could lead to a form of moral complacency. He makes many caveats about when to act stoic and when to revolutionize, but it’s hard to imagine this book convincing anybody in the throes of activism that they might be doing more harm than good.

The book is written in typical Haidt fashion with a very organized structure, all revolving around his six explanatory threads, with each chapter ending in a summary. Despite it being a bit clinical it’s also written very well and his voice translates great to audiobook format. Definitely worth the read.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

At once fascinating and infuriating

Revisado: 12-12-18

Haidt has written a wildly interesting and insightful account of morality, politics, human nature and decision making, yet you’ll find him doing a lot of of A,B > Z reasoning throughout the book. He’ll often seem to make normative claims when in fact he isn’t (or at least says he isn’t).

His metaphors are helpful and easy to follow, but his six foundation morality theory remains sort of mysterious. He seems to go beyond merely claiming that different groups use different foundations - he implies that conservatives actually have a superior moral framework (this is where normative vs descriptive claims become fuzzy in the book).

I found myself bobbing between fascination and fury, but that made for an extremely entertaining and intellectually challenging experience. His research is compelling and his writing is great. To stay relevant in certain conversations you really want to have read this book.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Fair, In-Depth, Totally Fascinating

Revisado: 09-14-18

Gripping accounts, detailed exchanges between key players, a breakdown of Trumps executive style, this book is brilliant and incredibly fair. Will read 2-3 more times. Excellent narrator, and good pacing.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

An quasi-academic case for why Evangelical Christianity is true

Revisado: 07-27-18

The audio quality was good, he’s a decent writer, and a good orator (author reads the book). Keller fails to honestly acknowledge the findings of critical scholars, and misrepresents consensus. He exploits readers who don’t have a deep knowledge of the Bible by claiming certain doctrines are explicitly laid out in the texts, when in fact they aren’t or have contradictory accounts. I was looking for an honest and compelling case for evangelical Christianity, and I found Tim Keller to be underwhelming.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña