I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life
Multiple-award-winning book on microbe’s eye-view of the world
"It seemed interesting"
+2
The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time
For much of history, societies have violently oppressed ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities. It is no surprise that many came to believe that members of marginalized groups need to take pride in their identity to resist injustice. But over the past decades, a healthy appreciation for the culture and heritage of minority groups transformed into a counterproductive obsession with group identity. This new ideology denies that members of different groups can truly understand each other and insists that the way governments treat their citizens should depend on the color of their skin.
This, Yascha Mounk argues, is the identity trap. Those who battle for these ideas are often full of good intentions. But they ultimately stand in the way of the genuine equality we desperately need. Mounk built his acclaimed scholarly career on being one of the first to warn of the risks that right-wing populists pose to American democracy, a danger that now remains as serious as ever. But far from being mortal enemies, the identitarian left and the populist right actually reinforce each other; to vanquish one, he shows here, it is necessary to oppose both.
"It seemed interesting"
+2
Air-Borne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe
Untold story of aerobiology, award-winning NYT columnist author, Smithsonian 10 best science book of 2025, 4.5 stars on Amazon
"It seemed interesting"
+1
The Explorer’s Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map
MYT best-selling author, I’m interested in how new experiences/discoveries shape people, especially as I get older, plus I got the book as a holiday gift
"It seemed interesting"
+1
The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking)
NYT top 100 book and other accolades, different physics topic than we’ve focused on before
"It seemed interesting"
+1
Uncommon Measure: A Journey Through Music, Performance, and the Science of Time
Multiple award-winning book that I thought might appeal to the musicians and aspiring musicians in the group.
"It seemed interesting"
+1
The Age of Extraction
Our world is dominated by a handful of tech platforms. They provide great conveniences and entertainment, but also stand as some of the most effective instruments of wealth extraction ever invented, seizing immense amounts of money, data, and attention from all of us. An economy driven by digital platforms and AI influence offers the potential to enrich us, and also threatens to marginalize entire industries, widen the wealth gap, and foster a two-class nation. As technology evolves and our markets adapt, can society cultivate a better life for everyone? Is it possible to balance economic growth and egalitarianism, or are we too far gone?
"It seemed interesting"
+1