Wiser Than Yesterday: Educational Book Reviews and Summaries

Book Nerds Sam Harris & Nicolas Vereecke
  • 3.7 (13)
  • BOOKS
  • SERIES

Wiser than Yesterday hosts open-ended discussions, breakdowns, and summaries of the world's most thought-provoking and inspiring books. Our hosts, Nicolas Vereecke and Sam Harris digest non-fiction books from all centuries and genres. They discuss the biggest philosophical insights and practical lessons for health, wealth, wisdom, and happiness. This podcast is here to help listeners become smarter. To learn about new ideas and to gain more perspectives on the books and ideas they are familiar with. Each season we tackle a new field and read the best books on a given topic such as racism, startups, stoicism, or personal finance. We cast a wide net to summarise all sides of opinions in an area to come to a wider understanding of the topic at large as well as help listeners navigate the different opinions and ideas they haven't heard of. We dive into topics such as philosophy, business, equality, psychology, politics, economics, and who knows what else. Our goal is to simply explore the best ideas and learn new things. You're most welcome to join us for the ride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  1. The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon - Brad Stone

    EPISODE 1

    The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon - Brad Stone

    We share the 10 best mental models about innovation from tech titan Jeff Bezos. This episode covers the story of Amazon and some of the incredible shifts it has created on the planet. From the obvious online shopping wave to things like the e-reading industry and audiobooks, web-servers giving us Uber and Netflix, devices like Alexa. We also learn about their failures like the Fire Phone and other things you probably haven't even heard of, Amazon Destinations, anyone? Lessons to think like an innovator and be more decisive: Primitive Thinking - Creating the building blocks that make new thingsReversible and Irreversible Decisions - Can you just try something already instead of overthinking?Day 1 Thinking - The philosophy of never being finished Note - Nico is taking a reading break, and Sam has a season to cover some of his favourite books in depth. - - - About Wiser Pod Nico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what. Sam Webster Harris 👋 LinkedIn - Sam Harris 🧠 Psychology Pod - Growth Mindset Psychology 🚀 New Pod - How to Change the World Nicolas Vereecke 👋 LinkedIn - Nico Vereecke 🤖 AI world domination - Evil Plan Inc - - - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Chapters 00:00 The Everything Store & Jeff Bezos 02:53 Thinking in Primitives 04:10 Story of AWS 06:44 2 Customer Centric Obsession 08:25 Working backwards - Why they built Amazon Prime 10:23 3 Long Term Thinking 11:39 Story - Kindle and e-publishing industry 14:21 Willingness to be Misunderstood 15:01 Team - Single-Threaded Leadership 16:10 Team - Employ and Empower Builders 17:15 Culture - Meetings are for Decisions 18:15 High Velocity Decision making 20:27 Regret Minimisation Framework 22:03 Disagree and Commit 23:13 Embrace Failure 23:56 Total Fails - Fire Phone, Amazon Wallet etc... 26:14 Importance of Timing and Competition 28:28 Day 1 Thinking 31:10 Useful Bonus points 31:18 Flywheel effect 31:46 Word of Mouth Marketing 32:42 Opposing beliefs - Ignoring vs Crushing Competition 34:51 Opposing Beliefs - Stubborn and Flexible 35:22 Wrap up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  2. The World Until Yesterday - Jared Diamond - Stone Age Lessons on Innovation

    EPISODE 2

    The World Until Yesterday - Jared Diamond - Stone Age Lessons on Innovation

    Heard enough lame insights about caveman psychology? Jared Diamond goes hard into what life was really like, how we thought and how it compares to today. A masterclass of a book when it comes to truly understanding our history and humanity and packed full of insights. Sam digests the book from a lens of innovation and what the reality of our life meant for taking risks and trying new ideas and making them happen. We cover various tribe studies across the world and the episode is brimming with stories and statistics that will make you think and a little bit Wiser than Yesterday. Part two is available on the How to Change the World: History and Future of Innovation podcast: SpotifyApple Note - Nico is taking a reading break, and Sam has a season to cover some of his favourite books in depth 🙃 - - - About Wiser Pod 📚 Nico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what. Sam Webster Harris 👋 LinkedIn - Sam Harris 🧠 Psychology Pod - Growth Mindset Psychology 🚀 New Pod - How to Change the World Nicolas Vereecke 👋 LinkedIn - Nico Vereecke 🤖 AI world domination - Evil Plan Inc --- Chapters 00:00 Intro to The World Until Yesterday 02:12 The Hand Axe Conundrum 04:05 Episode Goals 05:21 1 - SURVIVAL LOCK 06:00 Energy requirements 08:09 Time Scarcity 10:38 Risk and Psychological Safety 12:56 2 - CULTURE LOCK 14:17 Culture in New Guinea 15:16 Results of trying ideas 17:01 The Grandmother Hypothesis 17:57 Widowhood statistics 19:21 Kaulong Tribe Widow killing 21:03 Catalhayuk - 1000 years of stasis 22:12 3 - KNOWLEDGE LOCK 24:18 Losing knowledge 25:41 Maths 26:28 Communication and Language 27:29 Ice Age Picasso Paradox 29:30 Wrap up - Book review and teasers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  3. Poor Charlie's Almanac - Charlie Munger

    EPISODE 3

    Poor Charlie's Almanac - Charlie Munger

    The favourite mental models and timeless lessons from Charlie Munger on how to build worldly wisdom. Charlie Munger was the business partner of Warren Buffet and the cofounder of Berkshire Hathaway. The most successful investing company in history. He was obsessed with how ot make better decisions. His book is full of ways to help you be less wrong and how to find an edge where you can perform at your best and minimise risk of losing. From the inversion principle to understanding opportunity cost and your own circle of competence. He has a no nonsense strategy and likeable charm that just oozes credibility and makes you wish you'd spent time working and learning from him. - - - About Wiser Pod 📚 Nico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what. Sam Webster Harris 👋 LinkedIn - Sam Harris 🧠 Psychology Pod - Growth Mindset Psychology 🚀 New Pod - How to Change the World Nicolas Vereecke 👋 LinkedIn - Nico Vereecke 🤖 AI world domination - Evil Plan Inc - - - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Chapters 00:00 Poor Charlie's Almanac 02:58 Interdisciplinary Thinking 05:44 Understanding Circle of Competence 06:54 Opportunity Costs in Decision Making 07:49 The Inversion Principle 10:43 Cognitive Biases Overview 11:51 Confirmation Bias and Clear Thinking 13:38 Authority Bias and Independent Thought 15:30 Social Proof and Individuality 16:55 Arguing Against Your Own Beliefs 17:37 Critiquing Charlie's Rationality 18:10 Lack of Emotion and suspension of belief 19:29 Binary thinking and fixed mindset 24:35 The Art of Rational Decision Making 25:48 First Principles Thinking 27:35 Probabilistic Thinking and Risks 29:11 The Margin of Safety 30:25 Chauffeur Knowledge vs. True Understanding 32:40 Applying Mental Models in Real Life 33:27 Sharing Wisdom and Building Community 34:51 Conclusions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
  4. Impact: How to Measure World Change

    EPISODE 4

    Impact: How to Measure World Change

    Is Brexit more important than Bitcoin? How do we rank Buddhism vs TikTok? The world changes, technology advances, but what really matters and how much? Sam explains the Innovation Richter Scale, a framework for understanding impact at every level of technology and what it means to society. In Nate Silver's book "On The Edge", he introduces a Technology Richter scale to determine the impact of AI. Sam takes the idea much, much further because it's cool. - - - About Wiser Pod Nico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what. Sam Webster Harris LinkedIn - Sam HarrisPsychology Pod - Growth Mindset PsychologyHistory of Innovation Pod - How to Change the World Nicolas Vereecke LinkedIn - Nico VereeckeAI world domination - Evil Plan Inc - - - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Available on all podcast players: SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Can't find it on your player? RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------- Chapters 00:00 Innovation Richter Scale 01:47 Why create a Scale? 04:32 Earthquake Metaphor 06:54 Invention, Innovation, Technology 06:54 Ranking Magnitude not Morality 08:01 The Innovation Richter Scale - Level 1 - 10 08:04 Level 1 - Shower thoughts 08:23 Level 2 - Actioned Idea (In private) 08:42 Level 3 - Public ideas (Not popular) 10:10 Level 4 - Popular and commercial ideas 11:01 Level 5 - Defining Brand 12:31 Level 6 - Innovation of the year 15:53 Level 7 - Innovation of the Decade 18:12 Level 8 - Innovation of the Century 21:22 Level 9 - Innovation of the Era 23:46 Level 10 - Species Epoch 28:24 Wrap up and where to find part 2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  5. Thinking Fast & Slow - Daniel Kahneman

    EPISODE 5

    Thinking Fast & Slow - Daniel Kahneman

    Why is there more chance we'll believe something if it's in a bold type face? Why are judges more likely to deny parole before lunch? Why do we assume a good-looking person will be more competent? The answer lies in the two ways we make choices: fast, intuitive thinking, and slow, rational thinking. This book reveals how our minds are tripped up by error and prejudice (even when we think we are being logical), and gives you practical techniques for slower, smarter thinking. It will enable to you make better decisions at work, at home, and in everything you do. Sam gives a full break down of the main lessons in the book Thinking Fast and Slow. From our system 1 and system 2 thinking to how different biases form and why. To hear about the psychology of biases you can listen to a full season on the Growth Mindset Pod - - - About Wiser Pod Nico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what. Sam Webster Harris LinkedIn - Sam HarrisHistory of Innovation Pod - How to Change the World Nicolas Vereecke LinkedIn - Nico VereeckeAI world domination - Evil Plan Inc - - - How to Change the World SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Can't find it on your player? RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- Chapters 00:00 Cognitive Biases 02:40 System 1 and System 2 04:05 How both systems Work Together 05:31 System 1's Impact on Decision Making 07:08 System 1 and Politics 10:10 The Teenage Brain and System 2 Development 11:14 Cognitive Biases and Their Impact 17:20 The Law of Large Number 22:15 Prospect Theory and Risk Assessment 22:33 The Cookie Analogy: Understanding Loss Aversion 23:18 Rationality and Utility Theory in Economics 25:16 Prospect Theory: Perception of Value and Risk 26:52 Probability and Decision Making 29:05 The Experiencing Self vs. The Remembering Self 30:53 The Peak-End Rule and Its Impact on Memory 34:25 Pleasure vs Satisfaction 37:36 The Focusing Illusion: What Really Matters 43:17 Final Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min
  6. Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human - Richard Wrangham

    EPISODE 6

    Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human - Richard Wrangham

    In this stunningly original book, Richard Wrangham argues that it was cooking that caused the extraordinary transformation of our ancestors from apelike beings to Homo erectus. At the heart of Catching Fire lies an explosive new idea: the habit of eating cooked rather than raw food permitted the digestive tract to shrink and the human brain to grow, helped structure human society, and created the male-female division of labour. As our ancestors adapted to using fire, humans emerged as "the cooking apes". Covering everything from food-labelling and overweight pets to raw-food faddists, Catching Fire offers a startlingly original argument about how we came to be the social, intelligent, and sexual species we are today. - - - About Wiser Pod Nico and Sam set out to read the world's best books, from philosophy to sci-fi, economics to who knows what. Sam Webster Harris 👋 LinkedIn - Sam Harris 🧠 Psychology Pod - Growth Mindset Psychology 🚀 New Pod - How to Change the World Nicolas Vereecke 👋 LinkedIn - Nico Vereecke 🤖 AI world domination - Evil Plan Inc - - - How to Change the World: The History and Future of Innovation Available on all podcast players: SPOTIFY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/1Fj3eFjEoAEKF5lWQxPJyT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠APPLE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-change-the-world-the-history-of-innovation/id1815282649⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HowToChangeTheWorldPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Can't find it on your player? RSS feed - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/682b3b86696b5d1232d698a8⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---- Chapters 00:00 The Role of Fire in Civilization 02:20 Introduction: Who is in control 03:55 Fire's Impact on Predators and Prey 05:59 First Fire - 500 million years ago 09:24 Humans and fire - ~2 million years ago 11:36 The Discovery of Fire 13:07 When did we discover Fire 13:48 Stadium of Grandmothers 14:51 Fire's Influence on Human Biology 17:22 Fire and Human Digestion 19:43 Light and Campfires 21:52 Mealtimes 23:00 Fire's Role in Human Birth and Survival 24:51 Why Only Humans Mastered Fire 27:22 Fire, Social Structures & Gender Roles 32:42 Role Change in the Information Age 34:45 Fire's Role in Human Expansion - 70,000 years ago 35:11 Second half of the episode on the new show Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
See All Season 10 (6)

3.7
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Wiser than Yesterday hosts open-ended discussions, breakdowns, and summaries of the world's most thought-provoking and inspiring books. Our hosts, Nicolas Vereecke and Sam Harris digest non-fiction books from all centuries and genres. They discuss the biggest philosophical insights and practical lessons for health, wealth, wisdom, and happiness. This podcast is here to help listeners become smarter. To learn about new ideas and to gain more perspectives on the books and ideas they are familiar with. Each season we tackle a new field and read the best books on a given topic such as racism, startups, stoicism, or personal finance. We cast a wide net to summarise all sides of opinions in an area to come to a wider understanding of the topic at large as well as help listeners navigate the different opinions and ideas they haven't heard of. We dive into topics such as philosophy, business, equality, psychology, politics, economics, and who knows what else. Our goal is to simply explore the best ideas and learn new things. You're most welcome to join us for the ride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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