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Why Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment by Robert Wright

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3.0

Is This An Overview?

Psychologists have come to various same conclusions as the core ideas from Buddhism.  The mind is evolutionarily designed to mislead, to delude.  Which are not necessarily negative attributes as they have enabled survival.  Buddhism and psychology have similar conclusion about feelings.  Feelings can guide people to do what is right, and avoid wrong behavior, but in various circumstances such as feelings out of a specific context, can misguide behavior.  They can provide false-positive reactions, making people commit behavior without an appropriate stimulus.  Many feelings which enabled appropriate decisions within the evolutionary history of humans, have become inappropriate within contemporary society. 

 

Buddhism and psychology have similar conclusion about pleasure.  Benefits of pleasure are illusory, as the brain overstates how much happiness will be received.  Pleasure evaporates quickly which leaves people desiring for more.  The anticipated benefits are purposely misled by biochemical reactions to make people more evolutionarily productive.

 

Buddhism and psychology have similar conclusion about what defines the self.  The self is usually associated with control and persistence over time, but people do not have full control over their bodies or minds.  Humans do not have the ability to rapidly change themselves which would be required of one’s control of the self.  Attachments and other harmful divisions between people occur when thinking of the self.  Divisions that lead to an escalation of conflicts.  Alternatively, as everyone affects each other, everything is interdependent and interconnected.  Which means that harming another is in effect harming oneself. 

 

Part of Buddhism is meditation, mindfulness meditation.  The benefits of meditation have been corroborated by psychologists.  Mindfulness training can enable people to be governed less by misleading or unproductive feelings, to reduce the effects of illusions created by the self.  Meditation helps the individual notice when the mind wanders, to reduce the effect of the mind wandering.  Meditation can help with attention, rage reduction, and reduce harsh judgment of others.  The problem is that those who need meditation for these aspects, are also going to have the hardest time meditating. 

 

How Else Can The Mind Mislead Humans?

People want to be perceived as and present themselves as beneficial and effective.  Which is the beneffectance effect.  They perceive themselves as being better than average, giving themselves more credit within group collaboration than other team members.  People do not recall memories with perfect recollection, but omit inconvenient facts and exaggerate convenient ones.  People are prone to the fundamental attribution error, in which there is a misattribution of the effects of the situation and someone’s behavior.

 

Caveats?

Various parts of the book contain memoir explanations.  The memoir experiences can sometimes further enable an understanding, but can also be distracting.  As the author notes, there are various paradoxes in Buddhism, as in physics.  Some of these paradoxes are created by a language barrier.  There are tacit experiences, experiences that cannot be explained with fidelity using language.  The author sometimes uses the more original, more formal language to describe ideas, and then describes the experiences with more contemporary language.  Contemporary language that can make the ideas more readily understood, but which are not present throughout the book. 

Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters by Steven Pinker

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5.0

Is This An Overview?

Using rational reasoning skills, humans have been able to achieve material and scientific progress.   Rationality is composed of cognitive tools that people use to understand a situation, to find potential solutions to a problem.  Rationality is often found in groups, as each individual reciprocates in finding each other’s fallacies.  Reason can reason about reason, which enables people to disagree and find alternative solutions.  There are situations in which people can find rational reasons to behave irrationally, situations in which there is strategic value in ignorance.  People use reasoning skills when they argue, persuade, evaluate, accept, or reject an argument instead of threatening and coercing each other. 

Various social and institutional systems used force to shape others’ beliefs rather than use persuasion.  The acceptable methods of forcing beliefs on others have changed, but even institutions that are meant to evaluate ideas, find ways to suppress divergent views.  The problem of using force, is that force can leave the opposition with no alternative other than to reciprocate with force.  Relative power can shift to the opposition who will reciprocate the lack of willingness to be heard on merits. 

 

Caveats?

The book expresses rationality through various methods such as formal logic, game theory, and probability.  Although the decision theory and mathematics are provided in an introductory form, a reader who has not yet learned the ideas might need to apply more effort to understand them such as by researching for more details and applications.  The way some parts are written can contradict values in other parts, such as highlighting individual failures of rationality even though the group process of finding rationality is understood, and sharing causes to biases but providing various examples that enable the biases to occur.   

The Second Stage: With a New Introduction by Betty Friedan

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5.0

Is This An Overview?

The first stage was about women getting power parity with men.  Showing that women can do more than just be housewives.  But as women entered the workforce, there was a clash between work and family.  Between work and any other pursuits.  The second stage is about the changing roles of work and family, to find better alternative ways on how to be.  The second stage is about reconciling demands of independence with emotional needs. 

Women and men need each other for emotional, financial, and other needs.  When someone is dependent on someone else, psychological insecurities develop that make any relationship difficult.  Those who lack independence, tend to lack confidence in themselves, and take out their frustrations on the one they are dependent on.  When a woman performed many household tasks and participated in supporting the man’s ambition, women did not receive the monetary benefits or recognition for their efforts, while the men could not function without the support.  When the man was the sole monetary earner, the man was extremely anxious about job prospects, forcing them to stay at terrible jobs.  When men and women share the monetary, family, and emotional burdens, they have higher chances of economic survival and live more fulfilling lives. 

 

Caveats?

This is a sensitive topic that shares the complexity of the situation.  The second stage came about through new demands on social and economic life that needed a response.  As society changes, so must the responses.  Each society, each era, need to find their own responses to their different situations.

There are passages with various diverse perspectives that provide evidence for claims.  They can provide addition explanations, but can lack a systemic analysis. 

The Man from the Future: The Visionary Life of John von Neumann by Ananyo Bhattacharya

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1.0

Is This An Overview?

John von Neumann’s logic and mathematic skill effected civilization.  Brought up in a culture that prioritized intellectual ability.  Abilities that were used in the development of game theory, a method of making decisions based on how everyone is affected by a decision reacts to the decision.  Game theory was used in understanding war decisions.  John von Neumann participated in the war effort, and was part of the development of bombs and improved their trajectory accuracy.  Developments which enabled the foundation of computers, and artificial intelligence. 

 

Caveats?

Much of the book is a description of various forms of mathematics, that would be better understood by those who already know the complexity of mathematics.  

The Zero Marginal Cost Society: The Internet of Things, the Collaborative Commons, and the Eclipse of Capitalism by Jeremy Rifkin

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2.0

Is This An Overview?

Capitalism is transitioning into a different economic system, a different economic paradigm.  Capitalism is transitioning into the Collaborative Commons.  Markets are transitioning into networks.  Ownership transitioning into access.  Capitalisms’ internal mechanisms are enabling the transition into Collaborative Commons. 

Competitive pressure generates improvements to productivity, that leads to the optimum general welfare.  Productivity reduces costs of production, which causes the cost of production to approach near zero.  As costs of production approach zero, the price of the products approach zero as well.  Products become free, which undermines the profitability motive of capitalism.  Capitalism cannot function without profits, therefore there are many industry incumbents who attempt to prevent the reduction in profit by reducing the competitive pressure.  But the attempts fail as entrepreneurs find ways to circumvent the incumbents. 

Within the Collaborative Commons, everything is connected through the internet to improve efficient use of natural resources, economic production, and social life.  Sensors using data that enables analytics that automate systems to further improve efficiency and productivity.

 

Caveats?

What is shared are the benefits of the different economic system, while the consequences are not shared.  Benefits of data and surveillance on efficiency is shared, but not consequences on mental health of always being surveilled and lack of data security. 

There is a claim that capitalism is about scarcity while Collaborative Commons are about abundance.  Abundance of Collaborative Commons is based on near zero marginal cost.  The problem is that abundance is not absolute, its relative.  Scarcity is defined by resources which are more limited.  The relative abundance and scarcity of resources changes.  Capitalism used the relatively abundant resources, but there were other resources that were scarce.  Collaborative Commons is a different system which have different scarce and abundant resources, but scarcity still exists.  The scarce resources of the Collaborative Commons have become time and attention. 

People might be able to contribute to tasks that they want to without pay, but they would need to obtain an alternative income to pay for resources they need to survive.  The Collaborative Commons work is subsidized by work that provides people with an income.  

Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman

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5.0

Is This An Overview?

Thoughts change through physical modifications of the brain.  Changing the brain physically, changes how the brain interprets information.  The brain seeks information only when needed, to obtain knowledge useful during the circumstance.  Information might be present, but the brain will not see the information until concentration is used.  Observing only what is needed to be known, not more.  The brain gathers information and directs behavior, but the individual is rarely conscious.  The brain runs on automatic responses, habits.  Conscious awareness comes about when the individual’s expectations are violated.  Consciousness is used when dealing with novel tasks, to resolve problems not faced before, which uses more energy than similar tasks that the individual has dealt with before. 

 

The World Is Composed Of Subjective Experiences?

Different species have different umwelts, different ways they engage with and perceive reality.  Even within species, different brains uniquely determine what they perceive, what they are capable of perceiving.  Reality is more subjective than is understood.  Reality is actively constructed by the brain, rather than passively recorded.

 

Do You Trust Your Senses?

The brain spends a lot of effort and energy disambiguating information entering the senses, such as eyes.  The brains fill in missing information from eyes.  The individual perceives not what is there, but what the brain tells the individual.  People are not seeing rich details or aware of most information that enters the eyes.  The brain has change blindness, as seeing change requires attention that takes energy and effort.  Senese cannot be trusted, as they can make the individual believe things that are not true. 

 

The Brain Is A Team Of Rivals?

The brain has competitive rivals.  Some parts prefer gratifications, others long-term outcomes.  A conflict between emotions and rational system.  Feelings have been adjusting decisions, such as making wrong behavior feel bad.  Emotions and rationality are needed for appropriate behavior. 

 

Caveats?

This is an introductory book on how the brain processes information.  Making overt what the brain hides from the individual.  The brain is complex, with much still not understood.  What still needs to be researched is how much free will there is, for much of how the brain processes information is not independent of the various conditions and sources that cause certain decisions. 

Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction by Philip E. Tetlock

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5.0

Is This An Overview? 
Forecasting is a skill that everyone uses everyday to predict the effects of potential changes.  Like any skill, forecasting can be improved.  Experts are often sought out for decisions and event interpretations, to forecast what will come about.  Although many provided forecasts appear valuable, their quality is often undetermined.  The public tends to favor those who make the future appear more certain, even though their overconfidence is a source of lower quality forecasts.  On average, experts can provide a better narrative of events, but their forecasts are as good as random guesses.  

Part of the reason for the poor performance of forecasts is that reality is complex and dynamic, making predictions difficult.  Society might have more knowledge and computational power, but less confidence in predictability.  There might be limits on predictability, but people can become better at making forecasts.  To find out how people can make better forecasts, and methods to avoid, many diverse people participated in a forecasting research project.  

What made some people better at making forecasts, what made people superforecasters, was based on how they thought about information, how they used information.  Not intelligence, not ideology, not numeracy skills.  The forecasters were doubtful of their claims, and sought to improve them.  Complex problems which seemed impossible to forecast, were reconsidered through a variety of questions seeking to find ways for the event to occur, or not occur.  They looked for the base rate, a general probability of an event happening before going to the unique case.  Anchoring their views to the outside view, rather than the inside view.  They seek to improve their own forecasts by looking for what others think about the event, they look for alternative forecasts.  They adapt to new information, update their forecasts to new information, and try to not underreact or overreact to the information.  

These methods of thinking, these guidelines might improve decision making, but better to change guidelines than make a terrible forecast.  People can become better at forecasting, but teams have better results than an individual superforecaster, as each member can help others to refine ideas, and no individual can do everything.  But teams take effort to make them productive, and can create processes that exacerbate bad decisions. 

How To Get Better At Forecasting?
To become better at forecasts, people need to practice.  There is a lot of tacit knowledge that cannot be learned through how others describe forecasting.  Feedback is needed to train in any skill, including forecasting.  But the feedback to forecasts, usually lack quality.  They do not provide immediate feedback nor provide clear results.  Without appropriate feedback, people can become overconfident in their forecasts.  People can gain an illusion of control from seemingly favorable random outcomes.  Judging forecasts would depend on running many forecasts, such as in weather.  But there are forecasts that cannot be rerun, such as history.  Need to run experiments to verify claims.  

The language around what people mean by possibilities need to be more specific rather than ambiguous.  People can mean drastically different possibilities, which can create a dangerous misunderstanding. Teams can use a chart to numerically define possibility claims, to reduce confusion.  Numbers are an opinion, but can be used to reduce confusion.  Forecasts also need timelines.  Without timelines, forecasts become perpetually in dispute at what they meant.  

Caveats? 
Forecasting on problems will always have uncertainty.  As referenced in the book, no matter the quality of the better decision making, there will be uncertainty and wrong decisions.  The process of decision making matters more than the outcome, as there will be more opportunities for better decisions with a better decision making process than a randomly favorable outcome under a worse decision making process. 

The Master and His Emissary by Iain McGilchrist

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2.0

Is This An Overview?

The brain has hemispheres that are involved in every task.  But, the way in which the hemispheres are involved are different.  Their roles are different.  They deal with the same information in different ways.  The different roles of the hemispheres enable the brain to function effectively, but the differences also provide different experiences of reality which creates conflict.  They have different values and priorities.  They function well when cooperating, but their competition with each other creates friction.  Problems occur when giving prominence to a hemisphere over another.  The problems occurring due to the conflict are felt indirectly, through culture.  Social problems develop through lack of tolerance at other methods of thinking, as they appear incompatible, with the other being wrong.

 

Caveats?

This book contains a myriad of different cultural and philosophical references.  Prior knowledge of the references would enable the reader to better understand the book.  References that can be interpreted to favor the primary claims about the hemispheric differences. 

Circe by Madeline Miller

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• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Is This An Overview?

The immortals do not fear death, but they do fear power.  Among the immortals is a hierarchy defined by power, with Circe wielding none.  Sibling or not, many gods find ways to demean Circe.  Unlike most gods, Circe is interested in connecting to humans.  For such a connection, Circe discovered the power of witchcraft.  Power that Circe turned against a sibling as a method of retaliation.  Although other gods misused their power, Circe is used as a bargaining tool for those with more power and sent to exile. 

An exile that enables Circe to refine the powers of witchcraft.  The exile has its moments of loneliness, but also company.  Circe might not be able to leave the island, but many come to Circe.  From bandits, to heroes, to gods.  Experiences that Circe learns from.  Learns to become someone with power.  Learns that those who need help, might not be noble after help is received.  Learns how to challenge the more powerful gods.  Experiences that Circe will need to protect Circe’s child from a powerful god who wants to kill the child. 

                     

Caveats?

This is a retelling of popular Greco-Roman myths.  Those who know the myths can have different reactions to this story.  Knowledge of the myths would enable a reader to better understand the politics and social structure of the gods.  But there can also be dissidence between what the reader expects of the myths, and the represented contrast. 

Japan Unbound: A Volatile Nation's Quest for Pride and Purpose by John Nathan

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2.0

Is This An Overview?

Japan has been influenced by various cultures.  Cultures with different values, which challenged their fusion.  Tension formed between perceived unique traditional values, and the alternative values that are often foreign.  Threatening Japanese identity, their sense of self.  A cultural change that effects how people live.  Changing how people behave, find meaning, and find belonging within school, family, work, society, and politics. 

 

A society in which people tend to be willing to defer to the community.  People found belonging being part of the community, but communities are becoming isolating experiences.  The changing family structure and the traumatic school experiences, prevent people from building friendships and developing communication skills.  School and working hard used to provide people with an appropriate work and rewards, but the state of the economy led to a loss of jobs, a lack of potential reward to look forward to.  Various people are seeking differing ways to resolve the economic and social challenges facing Japan.

 

Caveats?

This book provides an introduction to the changing society in the late 20th century.  For a deeper political, cultural, and historic understanding of Japan would require more research.