I once wanted to be a librarian, and this is probably the closest I’ll get to it. The Library is a collection of curated links to articles, books, podcasts, videos, and other media. It’s a library of the interesting, the timeless, and the helpful. I’ll continue to update the list with new resources as I come across them.
Explore at your leisure.
Society & Culture
The Wolves from This is Love (podcast) (40 minutes)
Wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in 1995, 60 years after being hunted nearly into extinction. This podcast is about the relationship between two wolves, 42 and 21, in Yellowstone National Park. It’s sweet, dramatic, and somehow, oh so human. This is a love story.
Morgan Housel writes about progress, probability, risk, incentives, and the various ways the world works.
News & Information
“Instead of enriching ourselves with the wisdom of history, we drive ourselves insane with the madness of the moment.” David Perell likens the news to sugary cereal; we consume too much news and its (over) abundance has produced what he terms “intellectual diabetes”.
Stop Overdosing on Celebrity Gossip, The News, and Low Quality Information.
“Circles of Concern vs Circles of Control” is one of the more powerful mental models I’ve encountered.
How and why the Internet is disrupting commerce, media, brands, education, and politics.
Psychology
Present Bias: Why You Don’t Give a Damn About Your Future Self
“Present Bias describes people’s tendency to opt for a smaller, immediate reward rather than waiting for a bigger reward in the future….We get to enjoy the very concrete, immediate benefits of our actions while “someone else” (our Future Selves) suffers the hypothetical, future consequences.”
Advice
“The important thing is to get out there and do stuff. Instead of waiting to be taught, go out and learn.” An excellent essay for when you’re about to graduate or trying to figure out the next steps in your life.
History
On Progress and Historical Change
Is progress inevitable? Is it natural? Is it fragile? Is it possible?
George Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796
“With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts of common dangers, sufferings, and successes.”