The best books of 2020

February 3rd, 2021  |  Season 4  |  35 mins 15 secs

best of, philosophy, taleb

Recap of the favourite books we read from 2020 and the biggest lessons we kept with us

Meditations - Marcus Aurelius

January 23rd, 2021  |  Season 4  |  38 mins 59 secs

philosophy, stoicism

One of the greatest Roman emperors personal reflections and exercises to understand himself and the universe

Seneca - On the Shortness of Life

December 26th, 2020  |  Season 4  |  28 mins 44 secs

philosophy, stoicism

A wise collection of thoughts around how to live a good life where you pay attention to what matters and don't get caught up with the troubles and trivialities of the world

The Republic - Plato

November 20th, 2020  |  Season 4  |  23 mins 3 secs

ideal individual, perfect community, philosophy, plato's ideal republic, socrates

The republic is an examination of justice in an individual and justice in a city. To Plato, justice is an appropriate balance between different parts of the whole.

The individual is said that we should be led by reason, not passion or appetite. Everything performs its proper function, while the republic is established for everyone to perform the social role to which they are most suited.

Epicurus

November 16th, 2020  |  Season 4  |  21 mins 22 secs

epicureanism, happiness, philosophy

Happiness is the main goal in life, we can achieve this by pursuing pleasure and avoiding pain. But also by taming our desires and enjoying small things

Epicurus focused on happiness instead of virtue because he observed that humans are pleasure-seeking by nature.

Enchiridion by Epictetus

October 19th, 2020  |  Season 4  |  25 mins 30 secs

enchiridion, handbook, philosophy, stoic ethical advice

Epictetus was born as a slave around 50 AD. After gaining his freedom he decided to dedicate his life to philosophy, even opening a school. He didn’t write much about himself, most of his knowledge was written down by his students, particularly Arrian.

The Confessions by Saint Augustine of Hippo

October 12th, 2020  |  Season 4  |  22 mins 56 secs

autobiography, catholic philosophies, saint augustine of hippo

The book Confessions was the first autobiographical work written around 400 A.D. during Saint Augustine's early 40's. Augustine discussed his regrets for following the Manichaean religion and believing in astrology.

Confessions is the most complete record of any single person from the 4th and 5th centuries.

The final days of Socrates - Plato

September 25th, 2020  |  Season 4  |  34 mins 39 secs

last days of socrates, philosophy, plato

Describes the trial and death of Socrates in 403 BC.

Season Recap: Racism and Inequality

September 19th, 2020  |  Season 3  |  48 mins 8 secs

We look back at our discoveries reading a range of different books on racism and inequality

Nonviolent Communication - Marshall Rosenberg

September 14th, 2020  |  Season 3  |  29 mins 38 secs

communication, compassion, empathy

An approach to nonviolent living

Discrimination and Disparities - Thomas Sowell

August 21st, 2020  |  Season 3  |  33 mins 46 secs

analysis, equality, racism

A searching re-examination of the assumptions, and the evidence for and against, current approaches to issues of economic and other disparities

How to be an antiracist - Ibram X. Kendi

August 10th, 2020  |  Season 3  |  37 mins 8 secs

equality, racism

How to Be an Antiracist is a 2019 non-fiction book by American author and historian Ibram X. Kendi. The book discusses concepts of racism and Kendi's proposals for anti-racist individual actions and systemic changes.

White fragility - Robin DiAngelo

August 5th, 2020  |  Season 3  |  44 mins 8 secs

equality, racism

Learn why discussing racism is so taboo and difficult

Why I'm no longer talking to white people about race - Rene Eddo-Lodge

July 3rd, 2020  |  Season 3  |  37 mins 36 secs

equality, politics, race

The book that sparked a national conversation. Exploring everything from eradicated black history to the inextricable link between class and race, Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race is the essential handbook for anyone who wants to understand race relations today.

Hope in the Dark - Rebecca Solnit

June 19th, 2020  |  Season 3  |  36 mins 32 secs

activism, environment, politics

Radicals have a long, neglected history of transformative victories, that the positive consequences of our acts are not always immediately seen, directly knowable, or even measurable, and that pessimism and despair rest on unwarranted confidence about what is going to happen next.

12. Skin in the Game - Nassim Nicholas Taleb

June 7th, 2020  |  Season 2  |  36 mins 10 secs

philosophy, statistics, taleb

Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life. Having a measurable risk when taking a major decision -- is necessary for fairness, commercial efficiency, and risk management, as well as being necessary to understand the world.