Infinite Loops

• Sam Arbesman — Science, Complexity and Humanistic Computation (EP.277)

  Sam Arbesman, complexity scientist, author of "The Magic of Code," and scientist in residence at Lux Capital, joins me for a wide-ranging exploration of how we navigate an increasingly complex world that often exceeds human comprehension. We dive into the oral traditions that preserve crucial scientific knowledge, why cognitive diversity trumps demographic diversity, the forgotten innovations hiding in technological history, and Sam's vision for "Maxis 2.0". This conversation had everything—from science fiction's cultural impact to the philosophy of intellectual humility. Sam and I discovered we're remarkably simpatico on how to think about complex systems, the importance of historical context, and why saying "I don't know" is the foundation of genuine learning. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack. Important Links: Personal Website Book Page: The Magic of Code Sam’s X Profile Show Notes: Sam’s Sci-fi Origins The Oral Tradition in Science and Technology Cultivating the Unexpected Open-Endedness and Large Language Models “All Models Are Wrong, but Some Are Useful” Culture’s Role in Shaping Everything Patching Bugs in HumanOS Tech History and Forgotten Innovations A Tech Archaeology Fellowship Humility and Knowledge Learning Via Negativa The Complexity of Our World Sam’s Current Obsessions in Science and Gaming Sam As Emperor of the World Books Mentioned: Dune; by Frank Herbert Foundation trilogy; by Isaac Asimov Overcomplicated: Technology at the Limits of Comprehension; by Sam Arbesman The Half-Life of Facts; by Sam Arbesman When We Cease to Understand the World; by Benjamín Labatut White Mirror; by Tinkered Thinking Nonzero; by Robert Wright The Evolution of God; by Robert Wright God and Golem, Inc.; by Norbert Wiener The Road; by Cormac McCarthy The Guide for the Perplexed; by Moses Maimonides The Story of Civilization; by Will and Ariel Durant Mistakes Were Made, and Yes, by Me; by Jim O'Shaughnessy

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• Nick Maggiulli — Climbing the Wealth Ladder (EP.276)

  Nick Maggiulli, data scientist turned financial writer and COO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, joins me to discuss his latest book,The Wealth Ladder, which presents a six-level framework for building and managing wealth. Warning: this episode will upend what you think you know about money. We explore why atypical results require atypical actions, how income and not budgeting is the real unlock for wealth mobility, and how many financial myths persist simply because they feel good. Nick also shares the personal rules he lives by, how wealth changes meaning, and why being rich doesn’t guarantee happiness. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, “Hmm, that’s interesting!”, check out our Substack. Important Links: Of Dollars and Data Nick’s Twitter Nick’s LinkedIn Nick’s Instagram Ritholz Wealth Management Show Notes: Money May Magnify Happiness But Can’t Manufacture It Atypical Results Require Atypical Actions The Risk of Financial Generalization The Loneliness Tax Some Legacies Can Be Built Without Capital The Plateau Between Wealthy and Wealthier When the Job Becomes a Side Hustle The Spending Myth The Baby Bond Idea The Universal Basic Income Debate Markets Evolve Faster Than Us Kindness is Rare and Needed. Books and Papers Mentioned: What Works on Wall Street; by Jim O’Shaughnessy Just Keep Buying; by Nick Maggiulli The Wealth Ladder; by Nick Maggiulli Portfolios of the Poor; by Daryl Collins, Jonathan Morduch, Stuart Rutherford, and Orlanda Ruthven Invest like the Best; by Jim O’Shaughnessy Experienced well-being rises with income, even above $75,000 per year; by Matthew A. Killingsworth, Daniel Kahneman, and Barbara Mellers

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• Lawrence Yeo — The Inner Compass (EP.275)

  Lawrence Yeo — writer, illustrator and author of “The Inner Compass” — joins the show to discuss the power of intuition in an uncertain world. We explore why embracing uncertainty leads to greater curiosity, how social conditioning pulls us away from our true north, why doing things for their own sake builds authentic conviction and how journaling the "whys" rather than the "whats" can transform your self-awareness. This conversation flowed so naturally we jumped right in without a formal introduction! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. For the full transcript, episode takeaways, and bucketloads of other goodies designed to make you go, "Hmm, that's interesting!," check out our Substack. Important Links: Lawrence's Website Twitter The Inner Compass Show Notes: The Co-Creator Mentality Writing a Letter to Your Child The Root of All Suffering The Proximity of Envy The Inevitability of Social Conditioning How to Hone Your Intuition Escaping the Illusion of Certainty What Looks Like a Leap is Actually a Series of Small Steps Mistakes Are Portals of Discovery Can You Learn Self-Confidence? If Everyone Says Your Book is Great, Something is Wrong Journals > Diaries Lawrence as World Emperor Books & Articles Mentioned: The Inner Compass: Cultivating the Courage to Trust Yourself; by Lawrence Yeo Two Thoughts: a Timeless Collection of Infinite Wisdom; by Jim O’Shaughnessy and Vatsal Kaushik A Letter to my Newborn Daughter; by Lawrence Yeo Mistakes were Made. (And, Yes, by Me.); by Jim O’Shaughnessy Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing); by Lao Tzu Death; by Thomas Nagel

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• Will Storr—The Status Game (Infinite Loops CLASSICS)

  Hello everyone, Jim here. We're taking a brief two-week break from new episodes to spotlight a couple of golden oldies from the archive. Years later, these remain some of my favorite conversations. We’ll be back soon with fresh episodes, but in the meantime,  here's my September 2022 chat with the always interesting Will Storr.  _________________ Will Storr is an award winning journalist and author. His book ‘The Status Game’ transforms our understanding of human nature by demonstrating how our unconscious desire for status ultimately drives our behaviour. Important Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/wstorr?s=21&t=ZdtIqP9eE3_a5qZocDjEXQ Website: https://willstorr.com The Science of Storytelling: https://www.thescienceofstorytelling.com Show Notes: Will’s origin story The strange case of David Irving The fundamental nature of status games The Stanford prison experiment and dominance games The status games played by cults Luxury beliefs Why we are all moral hypocrites The importance of being funny Social status and socioeconomic status Human OS and the education system How status seeking leads to the “very best of human nature” The murderous nature of reputation destruction The post WW1 humiliation of Germany Loaded magazine Finding the true reason behind seemingly crazy beliefs The value of religion Trading status Spreading humility Why we could be wrong about our closest beliefs Books Mentioned: The Unpersuadables: Adventures with the Enemies of Science; by Will Storr The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition into the Forces of History; by Howard Bloom The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous; by Joseph Henrich The Science of Storytelling; by Will Storr Slaughterhouse-Five; by Kurt Vonnegut Selfie: How We Became so Self-Obsessed and What It’s Doing to Us; by Will Storr The Status Game: On Social Position and How We Use It; by Will Storr

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• Rupert Sheldrake — On Scientism, Morphic Resonance and the Extended Mind (Infinite Loops CLASSICS)

  Hello everyone, Jim here. We're taking a brief two-week break from new episodes to spotlight a couple of golden oldies from the Infinite Loops archive. Years later, these remain some of my favorite conversations. We’ll be back soon with fresh episodes, but in the meantime, enjoy this trip back to February 2024, when we welcomed the one and only Rupert Sheldrake. _________________ Rupert Sheldrake is a biologist and author of 9 books and over 100 scientific papers. A critic of what he sees as the scientific establishment’s dogmatic dedication to materialism, he is perhaps best known for his theory of “morphic resonance,” via which information and activity can be transferred across space and time. Rupert joins the show to discuss being branded a heretic, how to test for telepathy, his advice for young scientists, and MUCH more! Important Links: Rupert’s Website Rupert’s Banned TED Talk The Science Delusion; by Rupert Sheldrake A New Science of Life; by Rupert Sheldrake Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home: And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals; by Rupert Sheldrake Is The Sun Conscious?; by Rupert Sheldrake (Journal of Consciousness Studies) Show Notes: The Apostate of Scientism The Origins of Scientism How to Achieve a Phase Change in the Sciences Testing for Telepathy & Incentivizing Intuition Structural Resistance to Panpsychism When Science Gets Personal Loosening the Grip of Determinism Advice for Young Scientists Rupert as Emperor of the World MORE! Books & Articles Mentioned: The Science Delusion; by Rupert Sheldrake New Science of Life; by Rupert Sheldrake Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home: And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals; by Rupert Sheldrake Is The Sun Conscious?; by Rupert Sheldrake The New Inquisition: Irrational Rationalism and the Citadel of Science; by Robert Anton Wilson Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters; by Steven Pinker The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature; by Steven Pinker Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures; by Merlin Sheldrake The End of Faith; by Sam Harris The Fifth Science; by Exurb1a What the Tortoise Said to Achilles; by Lewis Carroll Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; by Robert M. Pirsig The (Mis)Behaviour of Markets: A Fractal View of Risk, Ruin and Reward; by Benoit B. Mandelbrot & Richard L. Hudson The Structure of Scientific Revolutions; by Thomas Kuhn

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