Why sun, sea and sand are no longer a safe summer bet. The inner workings of Wagner and Prigozhin’s attempted putsch. Climate, AI and nukes – a trio of rising existential risks we are now simultaneously facing. But when you can, choose not to multi-task – it never works. Instead choose to do agreeable things, scientifically recognised to re-grow our brain cells.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
““Short shores, long hills” sounds like a potentially huge trade.” (Niall Ferguson in the article of the week)
ARTICLE OF THE WEEK
Niall Ferguson, The Death of Summer
(Bloomberg, 30 July 2023)
Erudite! The historian argues that we are going to have to “reinvent July and August.” An entire economic system has evolved to meet our needs that generally involve beaches. When the post-pandemic travel resumed with a revenge in 2022, many warm-weather holiday destinations like Greece or Puerto Rico saw record arrivals. Now, rising global temperatures “would appear to be killing this version of summer.” Those who own the capital stock (the hotels, the houses, the boats) cling to the hope that this summer is an aberration and next year will return to normal. But it won’t. Accordingly, many foresee a geographical shift in holiday destinations. “Short shores, long hills” sounds like a potentially huge trade (gifted article – reads in 7-9 min).
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Joshua Jaffa, Inside the Wagner Group’s Armed Uprising
(The New Yorker, 31 July 2023)
This is a remarkably well-informed piece of journalism – the story of how Yevgeny Prigozhin’s private military company went from fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine to staging a mutiny at home. It exposes in detail the way Wagner operates in Ukraine and elsewhere, and how its leader ended up instigating a rebellion within Putin’s own ranks. “Surreal” as one former Russian military official put it (metered paywall – a long but rewarding read: 15-20 min).
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Andrew Freedman, Ryan Heath and Sam Baker, Existential threats to humanity are soaring this year
(Axios, 1 August 2023)
Not a happy read but a succinct and super-simple reminder of the key existential threats that we face and whose risks are rising. (1) Climate and rising temperatures: incontrovertible and possibly the ‘mother’ of all risks; (2) AI: nobody really knows whether it might destroy us, nor how it really works. (3) Nukes: China has expanded its nuclear capabilities, so much so that there are now three, rather than two, nuclear superpowers. Disturbing but burying our head in the sand is not a satisfactory option (metered paywall – reads in 3 min).
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Olivier Burkeman, Stop Multitasking. No, Really – Just Stop It
(The New York Times, 29 July 2023)
Contrary to the common advice of productivity gurus (find ways to accomplish things more quickly and efficiently, or even simultaneously, to get a maximum done), Burkeman recommends choosing a handful of things to focus on to the exclusion of others. This fits our temporal limitations and results in both more productivity and more peace of mind. In his opinion, restoring our capacity to live sequentially (which means focusing on one thing after another, may be among the most crucial skills for thriving in the uncertain, crisis-prone future we all face. The essence of his advice: Don’t multitask (it doesn’t work). Focus on what you are doing – one activity at a time (gifted article – reads in 6-8 min).
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Jaimee Bell, 4 ways to promote neurogenesis in your brain
(Big Think, 25 July 2023)
We tend to be much more aware of what can contribute to the deterioration of our brains, but we give less thought to how we can generate new brain cells. Yet, it’s easy, and after birth, neurogenesis is still possible in two parts of the brain. Four ways to do so ‘endorsed’ by clinical neuropsychologists: (1) Intermittent fasting, (2) Traveling to new places, (3) Learning a new musical instrument, (4) Reading novels (free access – reads in 3-4 min).
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