Illuminating Informational Reads

Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals by Immanuel Kant | Read in 2024

This is not an easy read. Then again not many philosophy books are. There are some good points made in the book. The categorical imperative Kant argues is the objective, rationally necessary and unconditional principle that we must always follow despite any natural desires or inclinations we may have to the contrary. Kant thinks that everything must have a reason to be good and cannot just be good. The idea that things that seem "good" can be bad or beget bad things because the of the categorical imperative, really changes a lot of narratives. This is a book worth reading and probably reading again to really understand. More Kant will follow to better understand his philosophy. 

Applied Economics by Thomas Sowell | Read in 2024

The subtitle of the book seems to be the most thought provoking part which really helps one dive into the book. It also helps one take the book into other realms and apply it in a way that could be very beneficial. Thinking beyond stage one is something everyone should do. Sowell outlines in the book how politicians rarely if ever do this which continues to lead to bad policies and hurt Americans. However, it is not just a politician problem but a human problem. The book guides along in the realm of economics how stage one thinking blinds people and causes them to make poor decisions that might sound good but end up being detrimental to themselves or society. This book comes highly recommended.

The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis | Read in 2023

Not my favorite C.S. Lewis book. It is rather short and basically a series of lectures he gave on the four loves. I found it moderately interesting but not entirely groundbreaking. It wasn't even very foundational in the sense that I felt that I could use the information to really build more knowledge upon. Maybe if I'm studying love or reading something else I will be able to reference it.

The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene | Read in 2023

This was a very interesting read. I enjoyed the stories that were told in it that helped show and give example to the laws laid out in the book. It is one of those books I feel I will have to read again to really be able to understand it and take more notes. From what I have heard most of Robert Greene's books seem to be that way. I'm not sure I learned as much as I wanted to or thought I would from this book. This is the reason I feel I may have to read it again to try to glean more from it.

The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg | Read in 2023

The Power of Habit started a lot of things in me. It is not a self help book in the normal sense. It does not necessarily give a five step program to better your life. However, it gives a lot of great studies and stories that show how habits work. With this information we can do what we will. I found this approach very interesting and inviting. Instead of being told what to do I enjoyed having the information and the "how" and "why" things work the way they do. This then allows us to make well informed decisions and change our habits from that. The stories and studies were fascinating. This is one I could see myself reading again just to hear the stories again. I feel there is so much to be learned from this book, even in a second reading.

AI Super-Powers China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order by Kai-Fu Lee | Read in 2023

This book was one very out of category for me. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it. If anyone is interested in AI or technology this is definitely a book I recommend. Kai-Fu Lee talks about his time with Google where he worked in China. I found the differences between China and the U.S. very interesting. I learned a lot about China in this book. There is definitely a narrative that can be raised about China, however in their pursuit of greatness on the world stage they have changed a lot of things. It is weird to think of a communist country as a capitalist country, but that is essentially what China is. Communist in societal aspects and capitalist in its economics. It was also interesting to see how they knock off basically any website and make their own version then end up making a bigger version afterwards.