I’m convinced that humans aren’t wired to understand geometric growth. Linear growth – the notion that you get x more of something each time period – makes total sense to us as the math is easy to do in your head. But geometric growth – you get x percent more of something each time period… Continue reading Geometric Growth & the City
Category: History
Understanding The Now
While 2016 has been an annus horribilis overall (unless you’re a racist, in which case, it’s probably a magical time to be alive), it has a been a great year for books helping us attempt to understand the heady times we live in. Most people would agree that we live in a state of rapid change.… Continue reading Understanding The Now
Censorship
I’m currently reading Vasily Grossman’s Life and Fate. It’s an epic Russian novel about World War II, centered on Stalingrad-but really a critique of the Soviet Union. There are many great passages in the book, but I’m particularly taken by this one about a former editor of a Communist paper: Sagaydak had a particularly fine grasp… Continue reading Censorship
Goodbye Penny, And Thanks For The Memories
Every day when I come home from work I take all my pocket change and throw it in a bowl. When the bowl is full, it’s time for me to roll the money and take it to the bank[1]. I’ve been doing this for years and it’s become my forced savings program. On the weekend… Continue reading Goodbye Penny, And Thanks For The Memories
Contrasts
Right now I’m reading Empires of Light. It’s the fascinating tale of how the world was electrified. Not “electrified” in the sense of “the Beatles are coming to town!” but rather, literally, why I can flip a switch and the lights go on in my house. This tale could be utterly pedantic – for instance,… Continue reading Contrasts