Greg's must reads
Arvind Narayanan, Sayash Kapoor
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AI Snake Oil:
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What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can’t, and How to Tell the Difference
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These two scholars have pulled back the curtain to see the facts behind all the sensational news surrounding artificial intelligence. AI is a great tool now and will continue to get better. But like so many other technologies of the past, it's probably not as powerful as it's made out to be. Of significance, the people who promote its abilities are the very people who stand to gain from both its popularity and the public's impression of its capabilities. One phrase we should all remember is that we should be more concerned about what AI will do in the hands of the wrong people than what AI can possibly do on its own. All in all, this is a balanced and insightful read about a technology that is still poorly understood by most people - even people who use it more and more every day.
Hans Rosling​
Factfulness:
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Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World & Why Things Are Better Than You Think
If you've ever seen Hans Rosling give one of his famous TED Talks, you'll know what to expect here. Yes, there is so much wrong with the world and humanity, but the progress we are making actually outweighs the negatives. Poverty has been falling worldwide for over a century, access to healthcare has increased exponentially - and that population explosion? It's more under control than you might think.
The author addresses the topic of race probably better than any I've read. He drives home relevant points with straightforward clarity without being confrontational. He pointed out the fact that racism occurs in all ethnicities, not just the usually touted whites vs all minorities. At the same time, he implies that minorities seem to be at the short end of the stick most of the time in America. I like the way he challenged his white brethren to go into black spaces where they'd be the minority.
I believe the negative experiences of his own mixed ethnicity origins have helped shape his worldview in a beautifully positive way.
Dr. Collins makes a clear case for straightforward science as a means to learn about the physical universe in which we live. However, there is more to existence than space-time. That is also a scientific reality that Collins addresses masterfully.
A great book on so many levels. It's to the point and so informative. I believed I was quite versed in American history, but I learnt so much I didn't previously know - and some of it was shocking. The intent of the education system may not be to deliberately deceive. However, the end result is the same- a nation of folk largely unaware of so much truth about the past, most of which is not even difficult to find.
Timothy Keller explains in logical terms why belief in the supernatural is not irrational. The author clears up myths and misconceptions about faiths in general and Christianity in particular. It's no wonder that this book became a New York Times bestseller