Style: Non-fiction
The Good Enough Job
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The main premise of this book is that workism is particularly American and a fairly modern phenomenon. Workism is the belief that work is the source of meaning in your life, and the author explores how work has come to replace religion, and any other type of volunteering, to become the main focus for everyone.…
Manufacturing Happy Citizens
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This book explores how the wellness industry has built itself by telling us that we’re not complete without whatever trick they have to offer. One of my favourite insights comes near the end where the author states that happiness doesn’t fit into our lives now, we have to shape our lives around the ideas that…
Jaws – The Story of a Hidden Epidemic
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Jaws explores the idea that our jaw is becoming undersized and it’s a hidden thing that no one but the author sees. The “establishment” won’t recognize the problem, but keeps treating the symptom only. The first hint that this book might not be as good as the author thinks is that it’s co-author is Paul…
The PARA Method
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I haven’t enjoyed Forte’s work thus far, but it was this book that made me realize why. I’ve been reading them as books about knowledg, but that’s not what Forte is writing about. He’s dealing with a new type of productivity system that is meant to deal with all the knowledge coming at a worker…
Automation and the Future of Work
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The purpose of this book is to explore the possibilities of a post scarcity society and whether work should really be the center of meaning in our world. According to the author we must start to move past capitalism towards a way of organizing society that doesn’t put your only value as work in exchange…
How to Destroy Surveillance Capitalism
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Cory Doctorow’s book explores Surveillance Capitalism and how we already have the tools around to deal with Big Tech, we just have to use the laws in place to hold technology companies to account instead of letting them get away with stealing our future. I got the most out of his look at digital locks…
Sideways – The City Google Couldn’t Buy – Josh O’Kane
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This is a book about the hubris of Google thinking that despite what all levels of government told them about the Toronto Waterfront project, they would not be able to simply assume their way into more land and more tracking of people. It’s a good look at how Big Tech companies get us to believe…
The Tyranny of Merit – Michael J Sandel
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In The Tyranny of Merit, Michael J. Sandel takes a hard look at the oft-touted meritocracy. Does it work? Is it a valid way to “get ahead”? No it doesn’t really work, unless you’re already winning financially and have something to fall back on so that you get many attempts to show your merit. The…
The Data Detective – Tim Harford
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In The Data Detective, Tim Harford takes a good look at how statistics are presented to us in various mediums working to help readers develop the tools needed to evaluate the claims being put forward in society. If you’re going to follow one rule from the book, be curious. Don’t just take claims at face…
A Brief History of Misogyny – Jack Holland
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Well researched and written walk through misogyny. One of the big notes relating to recent history is that we often fear Communism more than misogyny. We allow countries (like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan) to be our allies, just like in generations past you’d be friends with someone that beat their wife. The abuse of women is…
