The Thinker's Digest #2

Your fortnightly dose of brain food

Author

Nishant Bhide
July 23, 2023

Dear Thinker,

Religion, in the past, was a means to find something common amongst a diverse group of people. It helped us build community and find a shared sense of purpose.

As information became more freely available, our belief in religion dwindled and we started looking for more fact-based replacements. Earlier our community consisted of only those who lived around us. Religion made is easy for us to find a common denominator when the group was limited.

However, as our beliefs started diverging rapidly, social media came in to fill the void. Now the entire world was available for you to find someone to connect with, someone that shared your beliefs.

While this allowed the formation of modern philosophical societies, it also emboldened the existing. One would expect that technology will drive people towards science but surprisingly more and more people are seeking the refuge of religion.

Which direction we move towards is anybody’s guess but it’s a transition I am keenly observing.

This week, the headlining article talks about religion and how it still remains an integral driving force for some. We then explore the rise of the newest darling of social media - TikTok and finally end with some wise words from important people. Enjoy!

Brain Food

1. Peter Thiel’s Religion

Peter Thiel is one of the few billionaires who isn’t shy of speaking about his religious beliefs. Studying his investment philosophy and the companies he’s backed revealed that his religious inclinations have a much bigger role to play in his decision-making. This fascinating article by David Perell digs into the ideology that fuels the Midas of Silicon Valley.

Read the full article, here.

2. The Origin and Rise of TikTok

TikTok fundamentally changed the way we consume content and forced incumbents to rethink their primary source of content distribution. In this article, Eugene Wei, charts the story of how an app that first became popular with teenage American girls is now ruling social media.

Read the full deep-dive, here.

3. Light and Its Relationship With Time

Light and time seem like two unrelated topics. However, as one delves deeper into the laws of physics, you realise that both are intrinsically intertwined. This article explores the mysterious relationship between both and explains the reason why time ceases to exist at the periphery of a black hole!

Read the full article, here.

4. Googles AI Red Team : the Ethical Hackers Making AI Safer

Unless you’re living under a rock, I think by now you know that AI, if left unhinged, can be dangerous. Apart from being dangerous by itself, AI can be used by bad actors for nefarious purposes. In order to combat this, Google has built a team of hackers dedicated to making AI safer.

Read the full report, here.

5. Smart Things Smart People Said

The easiest way to learn is reading what smart people say about the many mistakes they’ve made on their path to success. Here’s a list of some of the learnings Morgan Housel thought were worth our time.

Read the full article, here.

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Here are some earlier posts to give you a sense of the topics covered in this newsletter -