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books

2023


What Carolyn Chen doesn't get about Silicon Valley

First things first: Carolyn Chen’s book “Work Pray Code: When Work Becomes Religion in Silicon Valley” is an insightful analysis of what happens when corporations encroach into the spiritual space of their employees, a phenomenon any tech worker will be familiar with.

2020


“Twilight of Democracy”

Here’s what’s good about Anne Applebaum’s new book: it’s anecdotal in all the right places. This is a book that attempts to explain the authoritarian turns across Europe and in the United States and Applebaum, as you’d expect from her, provides a convincing, well-reasoned and insightful explanation as to why they are happening.

2017


“And the Weak Suffer What They Must?”

I always slightly disliked Yanis Varoufakis. Strike that, actually I always thought he’s a bit of a clown. Motorbike-riding, leather-jacket-clad, attention-seeking, populist, arrogant clown.

2016


“Between the world and me”

Here is what I would like for you to know: In America, it is traditional to destroy the black body—it is heritage.

“Hunger makes me a modern girl”

I know Carrie Brownstein through “ Portlandia,” a quirky sketch show she’s been doing with Fred Armisen for the last couple of years.

2015


New Atheism

Stephen LeDrew wrote an interesting post about the influence the so-called “New Atheism” movement had on society, pointing out some intriguing similarities between our militant atheists and, surprisingly, the far right wing conservatism.

2014


“The rise of the image, the fall of the word”

I’ve been trying to read as many books as I can these Christmas holidays since I have plenty of free time and the weather outside is particularly cold,1 so another book that I’ve read is Mitchell Stephens classic: “The rise of the image, the fall of the word.

“Where the Conflict Really Lies”

Since it’s Christmas, I feel it’s only appropriate to share some thoughts about a book on philosophy of religion I recently read.

2013


“Cosmos”

So here’s the thing: I didn’t want to read this book. It’s been on my girlfriend’s shelf for a while, and even though the younger me would certainly read it eagerly, the current me avoids such titles.

“Debt”

David Graeber’s Debt is one of the best books I have read in my life. It is a thorough historical and anthropological investigation into the nature of money and, nomen omen, debt.