If you’ve laughed at “X is not about Y”, now is the time to take it seriously, as an equal. Over the years, many seem to have found my “X is not about Y” arguments to be enjoyably mockable. As if I would be equally likely to say “Toasters are not about toast” or “Napkin holders are not about napkins.” Which seems to suggest that while my claims might be important if true, they are too silly to take seriously.
"Elephant in the room": A very large issue that everyone is acutely aware of, but nobody wants to talk about. Perhaps a sore spot, perhaps politically incorrect, or perhaps a political hot potato, it's something that no one wants to touch with a ten foot pole.
Or perhaps some other norm violation, which probably applies here. Yet I'm driven to observe that the present elephant in the room is that Robin is second author of this book. Counter-signaling, dealism, or genuine lack of concern with status?
There is even a (mild) ethical issue here. I'm not sure it's quite right for intellectuals to surrender credit. It clouds the intellectual history.
I'm not a big fan of the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" and "if you believe enough it will happen for you" schools of reform. I think the main solution is better social institutions. And I do talk about those a lot.
Dear Robin, been a reader of the blog since it launched and wanted to thank you for providing many profound insights over the years. Sincere appreciation.
Also read your latest book, and it is superb. The research presented was thorough, the arguments well developed, the writing clear, concise and punchy. Thank you again.
My only comment is that the majority of these books tend to highlight an issue or phenomenon, but are light on suggestions in terms of how to fix it. For example, you have 16 chapters about the "problem", but only 1 about potential "solutions." That being said that chapter was very thoughtful and somewhat actionable.
This is the case with the majority of books in the social genre .. "here is yet another human deficiency ..." but then only a few actionable suggestions about what to do about it.
So what I am looking for is more of a mental toolkit and actionable set of practices or things I can do to help address this. Not sure if this need is shared by others, but I want to be a better smarter happier person as a result of reading the book, than simply being more informed or aware of yet another internal bias that I have limited ways to remedy.
And this would be my criticism of the blog generally, don't get me wrong I appreciate and enjoy it, but its entitled OVERCOMINGbias but the majority of content is just about highlighting baisses.
I personally would be very appreciative if this wise forum of readers that we have here could make actionable suggestions on how to better address this human frailty/challenge that you have highlighted so very well.
Probably because Google forcibly discounts ebooks, you have to trick them with a higher set price and you have to keep it updated because Google will change your prices.
FWIW, the book shows up twice when you search Google Play books for it. One of then is the "Original Pages" version (pdf). The other is both "original pages" and "flowing text" (ePub, which most probably prefer for phones, e-readers, etc). Both are the same $14.39 price, so make sure you choose the one that gives both options for donload.
The one linked in the post is the pdf only version. Dunno why Google does this. I ran into the same issue with "Surfing Uncertainty," though the prices were slightly different.
If you get a warning to the effect that you will have to zoom to read on small screens, you are on the PDF version.
People are not mocking it because the claim is important if true but hard to take seriously. People are mocking it because of a type of motte/bailey: the claims can be true, and the claims can be important, but the sense in which the claims are true are not necessarily the same sense in which they are important.
Huh? Clearly you expect to have readers who lightly dismiss and/or mock your usual arguments, and yet will be persuaded to enter a quality debate by reading this post and the book. I am confused.
"Elephant in the room": A very large issue that everyone is acutely aware of, but nobody wants to talk about. Perhaps a sore spot, perhaps politically incorrect, or perhaps a political hot potato, it's something that no one wants to touch with a ten foot pole.
Or perhaps some other norm violation, which probably applies here. Yet I'm driven to observe that the present elephant in the room is that Robin is second author of this book. Counter-signaling, dealism, or genuine lack of concern with status?
There is even a (mild) ethical issue here. I'm not sure it's quite right for intellectuals to surrender credit. It clouds the intellectual history.
Congrats and thanks. And I for one find the "memes" funny but not mocking, and not an indication that the ideas are not taken seriously.
Apart from this point and maybe that is the best answer we have ... was a very interesting read, very nicely done and good luck with the project.
There is plenty of scale between one person and our whole "society". Local institutions can change without changing the whole world.
I am disappointed that we will just have to wait for society to change before we can get much practical utility from this area of research.
Saddened that this is the best answer our leading thinkers have on the topic ...
Wake me up in 2050, when society changes ...
I'm not a big fan of the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" and "if you believe enough it will happen for you" schools of reform. I think the main solution is better social institutions. And I do talk about those a lot.
Dear Robin, been a reader of the blog since it launched and wanted to thank you for providing many profound insights over the years. Sincere appreciation.
Also read your latest book, and it is superb. The research presented was thorough, the arguments well developed, the writing clear, concise and punchy. Thank you again.
My only comment is that the majority of these books tend to highlight an issue or phenomenon, but are light on suggestions in terms of how to fix it. For example, you have 16 chapters about the "problem", but only 1 about potential "solutions." That being said that chapter was very thoughtful and somewhat actionable.
This is the case with the majority of books in the social genre .. "here is yet another human deficiency ..." but then only a few actionable suggestions about what to do about it.
So what I am looking for is more of a mental toolkit and actionable set of practices or things I can do to help address this. Not sure if this need is shared by others, but I want to be a better smarter happier person as a result of reading the book, than simply being more informed or aware of yet another internal bias that I have limited ways to remedy.
And this would be my criticism of the blog generally, don't get me wrong I appreciate and enjoy it, but its entitled OVERCOMINGbias but the majority of content is just about highlighting baisses.
I personally would be very appreciative if this wise forum of readers that we have here could make actionable suggestions on how to better address this human frailty/challenge that you have highlighted so very well.
I don't see the confusion. If he expected his readers to agree with every single post he made, then he's not running a blog—he's running a cult.
Probably because Google forcibly discounts ebooks, you have to trick them with a higher set price and you have to keep it updated because Google will change your prices.
Oh, goodie. Will read with interest.
FWIW, the book shows up twice when you search Google Play books for it. One of then is the "Original Pages" version (pdf). The other is both "original pages" and "flowing text" (ePub, which most probably prefer for phones, e-readers, etc). Both are the same $14.39 price, so make sure you choose the one that gives both options for donload.
The one linked in the post is the pdf only version. Dunno why Google does this. I ran into the same issue with "Surfing Uncertainty," though the prices were slightly different.
If you get a warning to the effect that you will have to zoom to read on small screens, you are on the PDF version.
Why is the ebook price on Google only 2/3 of the price on Amazon?
People are not mocking it because the claim is important if true but hard to take seriously. People are mocking it because of a type of motte/bailey: the claims can be true, and the claims can be important, but the sense in which the claims are true are not necessarily the same sense in which they are important.
Huh? Clearly you expect to have readers who lightly dismiss and/or mock your usual arguments, and yet will be persuaded to enter a quality debate by reading this post and the book. I am confused.
I'm told the Google version is more like a pdf, and so harder to work with.
Why is the Amazon version nearly twice the price of the Google Store version?