Escaping into Books: The Power of Reading and Reflection

It's no big surprise to me, but it turns out books and libraries have a positive impact on readers' lives. I’m always a bit skeptical of such studies, but I couldn’t resist this confirmation bias once I saw it. 🙂 I must admit, I love reading but rarely visit libraries—something I plan to change this year. For me, the main benefits of reading are: - It transports me to different worlds and perspectives. - It helps me escape the present moment and take a long-term view on topics. - It expands my knowledge and broadens my horizons. - It fosters personal growth and self-reflection. - It allows me to engage with my thoughts and enjoy solitude. As for the study, it suggests that libraries: - Help people feel calmer and more at peace. - Prepare individuals for the complexities of the world. - Serve as valuable sources of knowledge. - Support personal growth and development. When was the last time you visited a library or picked up a book? Give it a try—you might just enjoy it. (text revised by a LLM) https://lithub.com/its-official-research-has-found-that-libraries-make-everything-better/

- Pedro

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No te Pierdas Aprendemos Juntos 2030: Inspiración y Aprendizaje en Cada Charla

Aprendemos Juntos 2030" es una iniciativa de BBVA que no te puedes perder por su calidad, diversidad y la impresionante trayectoria de sus invitados, quienes aportan conocimiento y experiencia única. He visto muchas charlas sobre diversos temas y ninguna me ha decepcionado. Si ya no sabes qué ver en tus plataformas de streaming, échale un vistazo y aprendamos juntos (texto revisado por un LLM) En BBVA creemos posible una vida mejor en un mundo más sostenible y queremos ofrecerte las herramientas para enfrentar los grandes retos del futuro. En este canal descubrirás las historias más inspiradoras y los contenidos más útiles para afrontar tu día a día, animándonos a luchar por una sociedad más inclusiva y respetuosa con el planeta. Suscríbete y no te pierdas todas nuestras novedades, ¡te esperamos! https://www.youtube.com/@AprendemosJuntos/featured

- Pedro

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El Gran Otro: Cómo el Capitalismo de Vigilancia Moldea Nuestros Comportamientos

He terminado La era del capitalismo de la vigilancia: La lucha por un futuro humano frente a las nuevas fronteras del poder por by Shoshana Zuboff, Albino Santos (Translator) Mi valoracion - 3/5 (Qualitativa - “Me ha gustado”) Un extenso libro sobre lo que la autora define como el capitalismo de vigilancia, que representa un nuevo paradigma para la sociedad, en el cual nosotros (los humanos) y nuestros comportamientos somos la fuente principal de materia prima para este proceso. Shoshana nos guía de manera exhaustiva a través de sus orígenes, cómo funciona y la importancia del behavioral surplus (excedente conductual) como base de todo. También aborda quiénes son los ganadores de esta nueva forma de organización social y económica (las "Magnificent 7") y quiénes son los grandes perdedores (nosotros). Se nos presenta todo lo que estamos perdiendo, en la mayoría de los casos sin ser conscientes de ello. Asimismo, se explican los riesgos a los que nos enfrentamos como sociedad: el fin de la privacidad, el libre albedrío individual y la creación de un "Gran Otro" que intenta influir en todos nuestros comportamientos. Es un libro cuya lectura recomiendo encarecidamente. Sin embargo, no es para todos, ya que resulta demasiado extenso. Estoy convencido de que podría reducirse fácilmente en un tercio de sus 861 páginas actuales sin perder su valor. De hecho, creo que esa reducción aportaría mayor claridad y eficacia al mensaje. Como diría Saint-Exupéry: "La perfección no se alcanza cuando no hay nada más que añadir, sino cuando no hay nada más que quitar". (texto revisado por LLM)

- Pedro

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How Games Shaped Probability, Strategy, and Economics

An excellent Economist’s Podcast that features Kelly Clancy—a neuroscientist, physicist, and author of Playing With Reality—discussing the profound impact of games on our lives and societal dynamics. Clancy emphasizes that games are a powerful form of learning, shaping how we think and interact with the world. Games like Chess, Go, Dice, and Cards introduced humanity to the concept of uncertainty, paving the way for probability theory (via Pascal and Fermat’s correspondence) and, subsequently, modern statistics. The episode also highlights the critical role of war games, such as Chess and Go, which evolved into more complex systems like Kriegsspiel. The latter was instrumental in training military officers and predicting battlefield outcomes, particularly during World War II. Clancy then connects this history to Game Theory, one of the most significant developments in economics, pioneered by John von Neumann. Game Theory has informed concepts like nuclear deterrence and continues to influence modern strategic thinking. However, it’s essential to complement it with insights from behavioral economics to understand human decision-making fully. The takeaway? Games are not just entertainment; they’re essential tools for education and skill-building. They can influence our behavior, shape our knowledge, and enhance problem-solving abilities. For instance, Miegakure (https://miegakure.com/) challenges players to solve problems in four dimensions—a fascinating way to expand your cognitive boundaries. All of this in just 38 minutes (at normal speed)—a fantastic return on your time! (revised by a LLM) The surprising ways in which games have changed the world—an interview with Kelly Clancy https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2024/11/27/the-surprising-ways-in-which-games-have-changed-the-world-an-interview-with-kelly-clancy

- Pedro

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How Machine Learning Is Revolutionizing Economic Thinking

A Sendhil Mullainathan delivered a fantastic keynote on Economics in the Age of Algorithms, a talk lasting approximately one hour (at normal speed). In it, he compellingly argues that algorithms (machine learning, AI, etc.) are, at their core, economics. Among the many fascinating topics he covered, I particularly enjoyed how he framed the difference between Estimation and Prediction. Estimation represents the traditional approach to tackling problems, while Prediction is the newer approach enabled by supervised learning (ML). In essence, estimation focuses on optimizing the estimated Beta, while prediction aims to optimize the estimated Y. Sophisticated algorithms that optimize Y (the prediction) are remarkably valuable for uncovering new and strikingly original hypotheses. However, economists (humans) play a crucial role in designing recommendations for payoffs and loss functions, ensuring that ML outputs are meaningful and actionable. Did this triggered your interest? Sit back, relax, and enjoy an hour of insights from one of the great economic minds! (text revised by a LLM) https://videosolutions.mediasite.com/Mediasite/Play/cb9d64c0274d4aae98b61dd6779791b31d?playfrom=970000

- Pedro

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Review: Thinking, Fast and Slow

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the best books i have read (nonfictional), due to all the knowledge it conveys and also the way it's written -simple, clear and sound - with direct impact on your day-to-day life.

It explains how you make decisions and how you can mitigate your unintended mistakes (cognitive and emotional), by creating barriers/processes, when appropriate, to guide you through (system 1 and system 2). Its also discloses:
- several behavioral cognitive biases (with sound and surprising examples);
- presents the way you make choices (prospect theory, risk aversion and risk seeking and its fundamentals, among others);
-distinguishes the Humans (us) and Econs (the humans as per the in classic economic theory - Rational Economic Man) and finally;
- differentiates between the "experience self" and the "remembering self" and its sound implication on decision making.

A book i will always keep at hand, so i can easily consult/read/study it again and again, because after you read it you become aware of the daily mental flaws, but you will be pushed to continue to persevere on the same mistakes/misbehaviors.

Highly recommend its reading (or even study) for all readers, not only people interested in psychology, finance, economics, etc...


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Review: The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance

The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance by W. Timothy Gallwey
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

One book i could have avoided...nothing new, couple of insights nothing more.

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Review: Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness

Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Richard H. Thaler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Easy and nice read on behavior economics (specially for non-economists), with good takeaways, insights and useful advice ...from 2/3 of the book onwards slightly repetitive as the thesis, associated concepts were already duly presented and explained.

Do recommend its reading if interested on the subject!

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