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dr.Pep
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Copyright © 2021 Pepijn van der Laan.
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The left terrorizes the right while bathing in victimhood

The left terrorizes the right while bathing in victimhood

Gad Saad – The parasitic mind

The purposeful one-sided rant makes the book lose all credibility, in particular since the arguments can easily be reversed – especially in the wake of Trump’s desperate challenge the US election outcome.

It is not political philosophy, but political geography that led Democrats in the USA to embrace the knowledge economy

It is not political philosophy, but political geography that led Democrats in the USA to embrace the knowledge economy

Jonathan Rodden – Why cities lose

In the US election system, geographic concentration puts democrats at a fundamental disadvantage.

Over the past decades, most economists have been forced to flex their opinion on the efficient market hypothesis

Over the past decades, most economists have been forced to flex their opinion on the efficient market hypothesis

Justin Fox – The myth of the rational market

The book resists the temptation to get lost in juicy stories, but focuses on the evolution of ideas.

The escalating polarization in USA politics may well lead to an exit of California or Texas from the union

The escalating polarization in USA politics may well lead to an exit of California or Texas from the union

Daivd French – Divided we fall

The hypothetical scenarios are well crafted and unfortunately not as far-fetched as one might hope.

Once people realize that the US will never ever be able to pay off its debt, inflation will skyrocket and the the economy will be in shambles

Once people realize that the US will never ever be able to pay off its debt, inflation will skyrocket and the the economy will be in shambles

Peter Schiff – The real crash

Good diagnosis of current monetary policy, but combined with a disappointingly naive belief in the free market as panacea.

The ignorance of the Trump administration when it comes to the inner workings of government creates immense risks

The ignorance of the Trump administration when it comes to the inner workings of government creates immense risks

Michael Lewis – The Fifth Risk

The book should be mainly read for the anecdotes on female astronauts and nerdy coast guards.

For a democratic leader, waging war is a balancing act between ethics, national interests and electoral impact

For a democratic leader, waging war is a balancing act between ethics, national interests and electoral impact

Michael Beschloss – Presidents of war

In choosing the personal perspective of the leader, makes the book prone to the narrative fallacy.

The US constitution has always been used as a tool for suppression

The US constitution has always been used as a tool for suppression

Jill Lepore – These truths

The author weaves the perspective of women, slaves, and other disadvantaged grouped into the narrative of US history, making the work part of a bigger movement.

There is a big difference between leaking and wistle blowing

There is a big difference between leaking and wistle blowing

Edward Snowden – Permanent record

Extensive justification of why Snowden exposed the scope of surveillance by the NSA (with too many references to patriotic US heros among Snowden’s ancestors).

Following the rise of Jim Simons’ Renaissance, quants have become a major force in US politics

Following the rise of Jim Simons’ Renaissance, quants have become a major force in US politics

Gregory Zuckerman – the man who solved the market

The book would have been a better read if it had focused on one of its two narratives: the rise of algorithmic trading and the forays of hedge fund executives into US politics.

Politicians need not believe in conspiricy theories to spread them

Politicians need not believe in conspiricy theories to spread them

Russel Muirhead and Nancy Rosenblum – A lot of people are saying

Spells out the scary power of herd mentality in a post-truth world (indebted to Harry Frankfurt and Fernbach and Sloman).

In Western societies the uneducated are outcasts, which poses systemic threats for democracy

In Western societies the uneducated are outcasts, which poses systemic threats for democracy

Paul Collier – The future of capitalism

The author’s recommended retun to a local solidarity may address the issue at hand, but will also pose significant threats for ‘diversity and inclusion’.

China’s debt-fueled economic growth cannot continue in the same way

China’s debt-fueled economic growth cannot continue in the same way

Dinny McMahon – China’s great wall of debt

Interesting perspective on China’s impressive rise over the past year,providing more context to the recent trade war with the US, contrasting the view of Kai-Fu Lee.

Increasing inequality and lack of immigration are the two big crises facing the US

Increasing inequality and lack of immigration are the two big crises facing the US

Jared Diamond – Upheaval

the set-up in which interesting historical facts serve to make a political argument makes the author prone to the narrative fallacy.

Cyber crime is a cost-effective way for other nations to retalliate against the US, without risking all-out war

Cyber crime is a cost-effective way for other nations to retalliate against the US, without risking all-out war

John Carlin – Dawn of the code war

Overly chauvinistic and politically correct story of how intelligence and cyber crime are convering, written boringly – I eagerly await the Michael Lewis version…

Steve Bannon skilfully helped Trump to play to his own strengths and avoid his considerable weaknesses

Steve Bannon skilfully helped Trump to play to his own strengths and avoid his considerable weaknesses

Bob Woodward – Fear

The level of Trump’s incompetency is not even shocking.

Compared to the Chinese tech scene, Silicon Valley is slow and complacent

Compared to the Chinese tech scene, Silicon Valley is slow and complacent

Kai-Fu Lee – AI Superpowers

Former Google China Chief explains why China will win the AI race when it comes to applications of deep learning in the physical world.

Trump’s campaign was not the train wreck that everyone thought it was

Trump’s campaign was not the train wreck that everyone thought it was

Katy Tur – Unbelievable

Intriguing account covering Trump’s rise, by an NBC journalist debuting on the campaign trail.

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Copyright © 2021 Pepijn van der Laan.
All rights reserved.