johnfial_qr8lrr Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology, Johnjoe McFadden “Dig deeper and you will always find quantum mechanics lurking at the heart of our familiar reality.” Remember this. This is probably the most intellectually challenging book I’ve ever read, but it was worth it, and I’m as excited to review it … Read more
As always, the short version: Congratulations on being among the first 25 people to subscribe to this list! In this email: a note about drugs, a few big ways I’ve changed my mind, and some thoughts on cryptocurrency investing. The first link in the final section, “Quiet website changes,” is one of the most important … Read more
1 May 2017 Hullo everyone! I’m building an email list, and this particular “email #0” serves several purposes: To ask you to subscribe to future johnfial.com emails at www.johnfial.com/subscribe/ . That should take about 20 seconds. This one-time email was sent manually and you have NOT been subscribed to any list. Future emails (on the list) will be much … Read more
Hello! — If you’re new to my blog… how about reading What “Inclusion” Means to Me first? 2022 Addendum #1 — Written in 2017 when my wife was pregnant, this essay has recieved some disproportionate traffic lately. Although I disagree with a few sentences here and there, and I’m delighted to see more visible female … Read more
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex 2009, Mary Roach (Read 2012, Reviewed 2015/2017)($10-14, amazon.com link) “All good research—whether for science or for a book—is a form of obsession.” This was a good book on sex… but it was not a great book on sex. Perhaps I am too biased with the books I’ve read before … Read more
Disclaimer Do not read this webpage. This is satire. If you do not know what satire is, stop here and leave immediately. If you do know what satire is, leave anyway, as you and readers like you are even more dangerous. The comments on this web page are not intended to provoke, stimulate, or encourage any violent … Read more
Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It Kamal Ravikant, 2012 ($free-$5, amazon.com link) (Read 2012, Reviewed 2017) Nice short book. TF recommendation. Good to quickly read, but not much new for me, more “book porn” like much of what I was reading in late 2012. Good to review, if only for a few minutes, in 2017 … Read more
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, Malcolm Gladwell ($13, amazon.com link), 2006 (Read 2012, reviewed 2015/2017) Read this three years ago [five]. Indeed, the first highlight below sums it all up: the law of the few, the stickiness factor, and the power of context; although unfortunately I can’t exactly recall … Read more
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies Jared Diamond ($10, amazon.com link) “Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had little cargo of our own?” (Yali, a man from New Guinea) In other words (from above), “Why did human development proceed … Read more
Secrets of Power Negotiating 15th Anniversary Edition, Roger Dawson (2012, read 2013) “The art of conflict resolution is to get people off of their positions and focused back on their mutual interests.” This should be essential reviewing regularly, and before any type of negotiation, relating to job-searches/offers, apartments, houses, large items and appliances, vacations and … Read more