May 28, 2017 at 9:23AM
Editor’s Notes: I’ve signed up for www.gatesnotes.com which is Bill Gates reading blog. After reading a couple books recommended I’m reminded how much smarter he and Melinda must be than I am. Some are very tough reads, such as “Better Angels” which attempts a comprehensive history of violence in society. I’m grinding through it though because it answers a long time question I’ve had: Is our perception that violence is increasing a truth or a growth in our awareness and sensitivity to violence. Pinker argues rather forcefully that it is the latter. In fact, he presents facts that indicate that violence has decreased pretty consistently since our ancestors crawled out of the ocean. More importantly, after sharing his research, he share his study of the reasons why we are continually less violent, including organized states and justice systems, commerce, feminization, cosmopolitanism and the escalator of reason. After history lessons and the broad reasons why, he then dives into psychological factors (positive and negative) and influences and psychology. (Damn thing is over 1,000 pages.) But it was well worth forcing myself through it because while one act of violence is too many, it is good to know we are in a virtuous cycle.
The sculptor produces the beautiful statue by chipping away such parts of the marble block as are not needed – it is a process of elimination.
How’s that for a bold headline? I’m a searcher so I accept that my definition may change again but here we go.
Editor's Note: Tin Hat/Tin Hat Trio, in my opinion, writes some of the most beautiful and creative music while referencing many genres of music, including jazz, southern blues, bluegrass, neoclassical, eastern European folk music, and avant-garde. They truly look at old/traditional (the same) things differently than others.
“The people to me who are the most powerful leaders are the ones who have great talent in whatever their field is, great conviction in their ability to teach it and act it, but an awareness and a humility and compassion for others.”
