Lost Worlds
Listening to Suo Gân evokes a nostalgia for 1930s Shanghai* almost as strong as the nostalgia I feel for the 1980s Hong Kong of my… Read More »Lost Worlds
Sustainability and change
A flourishing city: a few questions
A question from my run through Jakarta today: what makes a flourishing city? Here are some questions I’d ask to find the answer: Is it… Read More »A flourishing city: a few questions
Lant Pritchett: “Schooling ain’t learning; education ain’t investment.”
The Centre for Development and Enterprise (South Africa) has released a great interview with Lant Pritchett focusing on how nations develop. I’ll post a few… Read More »Lant Pritchett: “Schooling ain’t learning; education ain’t investment.”
Recommendation: Dambisa Moyo on “Dead Aid” and corporate management
Whether or not you agree with Moyo’s ideas about “dead aid,” the first half of the interview raises lots of good questions about the incentives… Read More »Recommendation: Dambisa Moyo on “Dead Aid” and corporate management
David Deutsch on politics, planning and error correction
I think the libertarian movement has first of all a revolutionary political agenda – and even if it’s not revolutionary, even if they say “We… Read More »David Deutsch on politics, planning and error correction
Doing, being and becoming
If we are what we do,* then doing something different will change who you are. Working for change requires that you do new and different… Read More »Doing, being and becoming
Peter Thiel on the contrarian non-profit question: looking good, unpopular causes
The contrarian business question is “What great business has no-one started?” The contrarian investment question is “What great investment does nobody like?” The contrarian non-profit… Read More »Peter Thiel on the contrarian non-profit question: looking good, unpopular causes
Not long ago; or, Little by little (6): New York Tenement, 1889
This photo of crowded living conditions in New York is from an interesting article by Theo Mackey Pollack in The American Conservative. See also: Little… Read More »Not long ago; or, Little by little (6): New York Tenement, 1889
Spot check: what have you made better?
Here’s a quick way to take the temperature of your own effectiveness and that of your organisation: list the things that you’ve improved recently, and… Read More »Spot check: what have you made better?
Anna Gát on Not Disappearing and other things…
This is worth checking out. Here’s a snippet: I grew up in a show business family in Eastern Europe, and at a very young age… Read More »Anna Gát on Not Disappearing and other things…