I’ve previously written about the importance of creating an intentional information diet because you are what you read. Now with the increased ease of creating content, thanks to AI and tech, it’s going to be more important than ever to cut through the noise and curate what you read. 

To help more people discover quality content, here’re the latest and best things I’ve been reading or listening that are shaping the way I think. This goes along with my new practice to share more resources I find helpful, including my top books from the year before. 

Below is a short list of articles, books, and podcasts that have been the biggest topics of discussions and things I’m thinking about the most right now. The list leans heavy on societal commentary through the lens of economics, geopolitics, and culture because these are important big picture topics for anyone in the world of tech to understand and form opinions on. The simple reason is that in order to build great products that people will use, you need to understand people and the world they (and we live in). I share this list not to give my opinion or state that I agree, but more to add to your discourse to think, debate, and form your own point of view. 

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1. [Podcast] – Marc Andreessen – The Battle For Tech Supremacy

This was a really good podcast that covered current geopolitics and its impact on the future of tech. Andreessen  is an incredible thinker (and also a fast talker, so I listened to this at 0.75x speed). He makes great observations on the cycles of power and has a nuanced view of where tech is heading.

2. [Article] The Anti-Social Century – The Atlantic

Another thoughtful piece from Derek Thompson that covers the topic of loneliness from multiple dimensions beyond “because of social media.” I found myself nodding along to his many conclusions, especially his keen take on the secular monk that characterizes a segment of young men these days.

3. [Article] Gen Z and the End of Predictable Progress

Interesting piece a friend sent me, especially because it’s written by a 27 year-old Gen Z. It’s well-researched and gives insight into a potential future we’re heading into. Note: It doesn’t land on any big conclusion or “so what” but gives compelling food for thought, especially changing views on today’s economic reality for young people, and therefore, their politics.  

4. [Podcast] – Chris Sacca –  How to Succeed by Living on Your Own Terms and Getting Into Good Trouble

Every few months, I discover a new person who really makes me think, and I get obsessed with reading and listening to everything they’ve put out before. That person right now is Chris Sacca—not because of his investing track record or even what he’s doing right now (though Carbon Capital seems pretty cool), but because of his philosophy on life, his self-awareness, and his honest takes that go against today’s discourse on today’s youth. A wake up call I think all young people should listen to. Disclaimer – he drops a lot of f-bombs, which is also in the mission of his company, to give you a taste of how he talks. 

5. [Book] – Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World – Tim Marshall

One of my all time favorite books that I’ve just started rereading. The reason I love this book so much, besides it being a well-written book by a journalist, is that his commentary remains relevant even though he wrote this in 2016. He explains how certain countries have been dealt better hands than others in terms of geography and the advantages it affords them vs others. This is going to be even more relevant as we see how geopolitics play out in the next few years. Curious to see if my rereading of this will still stand.

 

More to come on things I’m reading and thinking about. Enjoy this list!