Your Techno-Optimist Reading List
9 books for your holiday wishlist
Now for something different. I offer you the techno-optimist reading guide. Here are 9 optimistic books along with 8 chasers. Use it as a holiday gift list. Or pick one for yourself.
The Beginning of Infinity: problems are inevitable and also solvable. All we lack is knowledge. And we are capable of creating an unlimited stream of knowledge.
Enlightenment Now: science and reason have worked. They allowed us to improve our lives. We should keep using them.
How Innovation Works: innovation is the mother of prosperity and the daughter of freedom. You can read my 5 star review for more.
Abundance: technology is improving at an exponential rate. We will soon be able to meet the basic needs of everyone.
More from Less: we are using less physical stuff in many categories even while growing our economies. The forces that are driving this could continue and expand into other categories.
Extra Life: a few innovations increased human lifespan from ~40 to ~80. How do we find more?
Freeing Energy: the future of energy is electric, solar and distributed. You can be a part of it.
The Moral Landscape: we can figure out moral questions, in part, by looking at which choices cause people to flourish.
Or you could catch up on a Kevin Kelly book.
Chasers
Donut Economics: mainstream capitalism and economics are due for an update including a better understanding of the environment and human nature.
Precipe: we should act now to preserve humanity’s future as otherwise existential risk is high.
Super Intelligence: artificial general intelligence is possible, will be very powerful and may not be our tool or friend.
War on Normal People: automation is eating our jobs and what to do about it.
The Value of Everything: Modern economies reward activities that extract value rather than create it. This must change to ensure a capitalism that works for us all.
Homo Deus: what happens if tech replaces people’s primacy as consumers, voters or workers? Humans haven’t evolved to handle all this tech. And maybe techno-optimism is a new religion.
How Democracies Die: the institutions that keep democracy functioning are weakening.
And on my to read list: Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital: The Dynamics of Bubbles and Golden Ages.
What would you add?
Until next week,
Miles