The Book Recall

In this episode, I break down Apple and China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company by Patrick McGee and explore how minimalist products like the iPhone are made possible by displaced complexity upstream; specifically China’s ability to mobilize labor at extreme speed and scale.I look at how elegance, efficiency, and seamless design often hide massive human systems, political infrastructure, and ethical trade-offs that make those products possible in the first place. The real question isn’t whether Apple designs beautiful products; it’s who pays for the smoothness.Support the showBecome a premium member to gain access to premium content, including the Techniques and Mindsets Videos, visual concept summaries of each episode, community forum, episode summary notes, episode transcripts, q&a/ama sessions, episode search, watch history, watch progress and support.Join Now at thebookrecall.com or patreon.com/8431143/join

In this episode I discuss Mustafa Suleyman’s book The Coming Wave, and explore why rapid diffusion, opaque decision-making, and runaway technological acceleration pose serious risks to public trust and global stability. I break down the core dynamics of containment, including Goodhart’s law, gatekeeping, fat-tailed risks, feedback lag, irreversibility, and the alignment tax. I then relate these dynamics to Suleyman’s proposed ten-point plan for navigating this "narrow path" of AI containment.Support the showBecome a premium member to gain access to premium content, including the Techniques and Mindsets Videos, visual concept summaries of each episode, community forum, episode summary notes, episode transcripts, q&a/ama sessions, episode search, watch history, watch progress and support.Join Now at thebookrecall.com or patreon.com/8431143/join

In this episode I discuss Ben Shapiro’s Lions and Scavengers, exploring how morality, free markets, and ideology intertwine. I break down false consciousness, the moral roots of capitalism, and how losing moral anchors like family and faith leads to social decay. I argue that both left and right rely on narrow definitions of merit and morality—and that only a universal, meta-level moral framework can restore balance to society and the economy.Support the showBecome a premium member to gain access to premium content, including the Techniques and Mindsets Videos, visual concept summaries of each episode, community forum, episode summary notes, episode transcripts, q&a/ama sessions, episode search, watch history, watch progress and support.Join Now at thebookrecall.com or patreon.com/8431143/join

In this episode, I discuss Chris Miller’s book Chip War, and use it to argue that the real lesson of the semiconductor race isn’t just about who controls the technology, but who possesses the tacit knowledge—the deeply embedded, experience-based know-how—that makes technology work, and why that makes global dependency far harder to escape than it seems.Support the showBecome a premium member to gain access to premium content, including the Techniques and Mindsets Videos, visual concept summaries of each episode, community forum, episode summary notes, episode transcripts, q&a/ama sessions, episode search, watch history, watch progress and support.Join Now at thebookrecall.com or patreon.com/8431143/join

In this episode, I recall Seeking Wisdom by Peter Bevelin. But, rather than my usual chapter-by-chapter recall, I give my opinion on the book in general, referencing parts of the book throughout. Please let me know which approach you prefer. Support the showBecome a premium member to gain access to premium content, including the Techniques and Mindsets Videos, visual concept summaries of each episode, community forum, episode summary notes, episode transcripts, q&a/ama sessions, episode search, watch history, watch progress and support.Join Now at thebookrecall.com or patreon.com/8431143/join