A Few Things: Understanding America, Your Brain and The Spiritual, Why We Die, How To Build Muscle & Boost Testosterone, Morgan Housel Summarised, Future of Music, News and Charts You Missed....
April 18, 2024
I am sharing this weekly email with you because I count you in the group of people I learn from and enjoy being around.
If you missed last week’s discussion: America's Working Class, Jordan Peterson & Iain McGilchrist, America's Debt Crises, Bremmer & Friedman on Middle East, Evolution of Religions, Musk & Tangen on AI, Healthcare & AI.....
Believe it or not, that “♡ Like” button is a big deal – it serves as a proxy to new visitors of this publication’s value. If you got value out of reading, please let others know!
I am in Dubai and Riyadh next week, so please ping me if you are there.
Quotes I Am Thinking About:
“The right question is usually more important than the right answer.”
- Plato
“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”
- George Orwell
“The Graveyards are filled with irreplaceable men.”
- Charles DeGaulle
"The good and the great are only separated by the willingness to sacrifice.”
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
A. A Few Things Worth Checking Out:
Batya has been on a journey for the past eight years to understand how Trump won the White House in 2016 and how the left fundamentally misunderstood the American working class.
She eventually came to the conclusion that the most salient feature of American life is not our political divide.
It’s “the class divide that separates the college-educated from the working class.”
This conversation helped me understand America better.
5 Key Insights:
The Democratic Party has shifted away from being the party of labor and the working class towards catering to college-educated elites and the dependent poor. Policies like offshoring manufacturing jobs, welcoming mass immigration that undercuts wages, and focusing on issues like climate change have alienated working class voters.
Working class voters of all races are increasingly supporting Republicans and Trump, believing they are better for the economy and jobs. Polls show rising Trump support among Hispanics and black men. The idea that Trump voters are motivated primarily by racial resentment seems inaccurate.
Many working class Americans feel the "American Dream" is out of reach, even if they work hard. Stagnant wages, unaffordable housing, and the decline of unions have made a stable middle-class life inaccessible for those without a college degree. They want dignity through work, not welfare.
Mass immigration is a top concern for working class Americans who believe it drives down wages and makes it harder to earn a decent living. There is frustration that concerns over immigration's economic impacts get dismissed as racist.
Most Americans hold moderate views on polarizing cultural issues like abortion, but the parties have moved to the extremes. There is an opportunity for either party to capture a multiracial working class coalition by taking populist positions on economics, immigration, and healthcare while avoiding the extremes on social issues. Trump seems to be moving in this direction.
The socioeconomic and cultural divide between college-educated elites and the working class seems to now be more salient than traditional right-left divisions, scrambling political coalitions. The party that can successfully appeal to working class economic concerns while adopting a moderate cultural stance is likely to dominate elections going forward.
2. Dr. Jordan Peterson sat down with researcher, philosopher Dr. Iain McGilchrist.
Iain is the author of a number of books, but is best-known for The Master and his Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World (Yale 2009). In November 2021 his two-volume work The Matter with Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions, and the Unmaking of the World was published by Perspectiva Press.
The big idea from McGilchrist’s work is that: despite increasing affluence, people are more anxious, depressed, and lacking in purpose than ever before. This is attributed to the dominance of the left hemisphere of the brain, which favors manipulation, control, and a narrow, decontextualized view of the world. In contrast, the right hemisphere sees the bigger picture, understands context, and recognizes the interconnectedness of everything.
He suggests that Western civilisation has moved further towards the left hemisphere's worldview since the Enlightenment, leading to a reductionist and mechanistic understanding of reality. This is exemplified by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), which replicates the left hemisphere's functions and lacks a sense of context and values.
3 Key Insights from the conversation:
Attention as a moral act has far-reaching consequences. It implies that what we consider "facts" and "reality" are not neutral, but shaped by our intentions, conscious and unconscious. To see clearly and truthfully, we must cultivate the right quality of attention - patient, humble, and holistic. This is a form of "unknowing" or "beginner's mind" that lets reality disclose itself, rather than prematurely imposing our assumptions.
The left-brain / right-brain dichotomy, while an oversimplification, points to crucial complementary modes of cognition. The categorical, language-based, linear thinking of the left-brain needs to be in dialogue with the gestalt, metaphorical, embodied cognition of the right brain. Our culture tends to privilege the former at the expense of the latter. Healing this imbalance is crucial for our intellectual, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
Overcoming the modern disenchantment of the world requires re-weaving science, reason, intuition, imagination, and spirituality. This means recognizing that the scientific method, for all its power, is not the only path to truth, and that its reductive materialism leaves out many crucial dimensions of existence. We need a new synthesis that honors the best of science while recognizing its limits.
3. Warren Buffett: “If I were on Wall Street, I’d probably be a lot poorer. You get overstimulated. You hear lots of things. You may shorten your focus and a short focus is not conducive to long profits.”
Neckar had a great peace titled The Skillfulness of Stillness.
He argues that in a world of constant noise and distraction, the ability to find stillness and listen to one's inner voice is crucial for success, particularly in the realm of investing.
Legendary investors like Warren Buffett, Stanley Druckenmiller, and George Soros have emphasized the importance of creating spaces of stillness to support focus and curiosity, allowing them to spot and prioritize "fat pitches" in the market.
This stillness can be cultivated through various means, such as carefully structuring one's physical surroundings, practicing meditation or other inner practices, engaging in activities that promote a flow state like walking or martial arts, or intentionally protecting periods of stillness in one's schedule.
By approaching attention with intention and avoiding the trap of constant busywork, investors can remain open to the subtle yet crucial guidance of their unbounded curiosity and unconscious mind, ultimately leading to better decision-making and the ability to seize opportunities when they arise in the midst of market chaos.
4. Nobel laureate Venki Ramakrishnan takes a skeptical view in a fascinating exploration of longevity research.
In Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality, the acclaimed scientist delves into the complexities of aging and the pursuit of extending healthy lifespan.
A former president of the Royal Society in London, Ramakrishnan is a group leader at the Medical Research Council's Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England. He shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009 for his work uncovering the structure and function of tiny cellular particles called ribosomes and was knighted in 2012.
He spoke on a podcast a month ago, that already has 150k views.
5 Key Ideas from the conversation:
Ramakrishnan's interdisciplinary journey from physics to molecular biology, culminating in groundbreaking work on the ribosome and a Nobel Prize, positioned him well to critically examine aging research from a broader scientific perspective.
Motivated by concerns about hype and financial conflicts of interest in aging research, Ramakrishnan wrote "Why We Die" to provide an objective, accessible overview of the biology of aging for the general public, aiming to help readers navigate sensationalized claims.
While caloric restriction has robust scientific evidence for extending lifespan in various species, a balanced, moderate diet along with exercise and sleep may be a more sustainable approach for promoting healthy aging in humans.
From an evolutionary standpoint, lifespan is optimized for reproductive success rather than maximized longevity. Each species strikes a balance based on factors like size, metabolism, and predation risk. Humans are relative outliers, living longer than expected for our size.
The most significant benefits of aging research may lie in alleviating the disabilities and diseases associated with old age, rather than pushing the boundaries of maximum lifespan. However, interventions that promote healthspan could indirectly extend lifespan as well, presenting a paradox in the field.
5. Chris at Modern Wisdom spoke to Peter Attia in a conversation titled: Scientifically Proven Ways To Build Muscle & Boost Longevity.
5 Key Insights from the conversation:
Prioritise sleep: Aim for consistency in sleep schedule, ensure adequate sleep duration, optimize sleep environment (temperature, darkness, quietness), and manage stress and stimulation before bedtime. Good sleep is crucial for physical health, cognitive function, and emotional well-being.
Exercise regularly: Engage in a comprehensive exercise program that includes aerobic training for cardiovascular health, resistance training for strength and muscle mass, and activities that promote balance, coordination, and flexibility. Consistency over the long-term is key for maximizing healthspan and functionality in later life.
Focus on nutrition and gut health: Eat a diet rich in whole foods, particularly vegetables, to ensure adequate intake of nutrients and insoluble fiber. Pay attention to any foods that trigger digestive issues and consider eliminating them. Probiotic supplements may be helpful if they contain high-quality, survivable strains.
Manage stress and cultivate emotional well-being: Dedicate time and effort to developing emotional health through practices like therapy, self-reflection, and self-compassion. Work on recognizing and reprogramming negative self-talk patterns. Prioritize activities and relationships that promote joy, purpose, and fulfillment.
Optimize hormone balance and be mindful of medication use: For women, be aware of the potential mental health and relationship impacts of hormonal birth control and weigh the risks and benefits. For men, adopt lifestyle practices that support healthy testosterone levels, such as managing stress, getting enough sleep, and maintaining a healthy body composition. Be cautious with the use of medications like aspirin and anticholinergics, weighing the potential benefits against the risks for each individual situation.
Chris also had a related conversation titled why Are men’s testosterone levels plummeting, with Dr Shanna Swan.
They key ideas from that conversation:
Minimize exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals: Reduce your contact with phthalates, BPA, and other hormone-disrupting chemicals found in plastics, food packaging, and personal care products. Opt for fresh, minimally packaged foods, avoid heating food in plastic containers, and use glass or stainless steel containers instead of plastic.
Eat a healthy diet: Follow a diet rich in whole foods, particularly vegetables, and minimize processed and packaged foods. The Mediterranean diet has been associated with better sperm count and likely supports healthy testosterone levels as well.
Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy body composition: Engage in regular physical activity and resistance training to support muscle mass and overall health. Avoid excessive alcohol intake and maintain a healthy body weight, as obesity is linked to lower testosterone.
Prioritize sleep and manage stress: Get sufficient high-quality sleep on a consistent schedule. Practice stress management techniques, as chronic stress can negatively impact testosterone production.
Avoid excessive use of medications that may interfere with testosterone: Talk to your doctor about any medications you're taking that could affect hormone levels, such as opioids or certain antidepressants. Minimize the use of these medications if possible and explore alternative treatments.
6. The Atlantic’s Plain English podcast had a great episode titled: Why School Absences Have "Exploded" Across America.
Recent data shows that an estimated 26% of public school students were considered ‘chronically absent’ last school year, up from 15% before the pandemic - meaning that more than a quarter of students missed +10% of a given school year. Across the country, students are choosing to stay home when sick with routine colds and viruses, and more students are struggling with mental health.
According to education experts, student absenteeism is a leading factor hindering the U.S. recovery from pandemic-driven learning losses.
7. Steve Eisman was on Bloomberg’s Odd Lots discussing the Three Big Macro Stories of our Time: AI, infrastructure and crypto.
The last one he just fundamentally rejects. The first two, however, he sees as tailwinds that can potentially last a long time. He's been looking for companies that can capitalize on trends like nearshoring, the Inflation Reduction Act, and power-hungry datacenters. They discuss where we are in this big cycle.
8. I love it when books can be summarised into one page, because often books are too long and could be summarised to be just a blog post.
Here are two Morgan Housel books that folks are talking about right now:
B. The Science and Technology Section
1. I’ve heard a bunch of generative AI models capable of producing music — some only instrumental and some with vocals. They’re impressive, but still very much at the StableDiffusion 1.0 phase of development.
Suno V.3 is next level, plus very cool and simple to use.
C. News and Charts You Might Have Missed:
1. Interesting twitter thread from Derek Thompson on US Church Attendance.
2. College enrollment is down, but vocational training is booming as Gen Z sees lucrative opportunities in fields like plumbing and welding, reports say.
3. The noninvasive beauty business is growing, as the number of nonsurgical cosmetic procedures jumped 58% (from ~11.9 million in 2018 to ~17.6 million in 2022). And there’s one demographic in particular driving the trend: young people (millennials and Gen Z). According to a survey, more than two-thirds of those who went in for a Botox procedure were 50 and under and 24% were between 18 and 34 years old. Australia saw spending on cosmetic procedures top $1 billion for the first time in 2023.
4. Just 26% of Americans get at least 8 hours of sleep per night, according to a new survey, down from 34% in 2013. ~20% say they sleep less than 5 hours per night. Women are significantly less likely than men to say they get enough sleep, and people between the ages of 30 and 49 are more sleep-deprived than any other age group.
5. Japanese people are sleep-deprived, according to a recent health ministry report that has worried experts. Concerns over the sleeplessness crisis were sparked after a 2021 OECD report showed Japanese people get the least sleep of 33 nations studied, and official statistics found that around 40% of the country averages less than 6 hours of sleep.
Believe it or not, that “♡ Like” button is a big deal – it serves as a proxy to new visitors of this publication’s value. If you got value out of reading, please let others know!
Always timely and interesting!!!!