Category: Education

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Education Innovation Reading Technology

Latest Read: Range

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein. Wow, I found Range brimming with rich insights to the idea of specialization versus generalists. What an enjoyable read! Actually so good in fact, I read the book twice.

Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein

Range examines the popular idea that specialization may actually set back our goals and abilities. Interestingly, the hook for Range is the Introduction: Roger versus Tiger. While the Introduction is easy fodder for TV interviews, radio, and podcast sessions and with the video clips below, book promotions.

However, such a well written book does not need this Roger versus Tiger segment at all. It is easy to understand why, However I wish Epstein would have left out the Introduction. It spoils the better, more powerful stories in the following chapters.

In other words, Range brings forward a lot of data to the idea that a well rounded individual can better understand issues and make critical decision versus a specialist. Generalists as Epstein reveals will benefit an organization, team or family on average, better than a specialist. But there is so much more to consider.

Epstein challenges popular specialization books from Angela Duckworth’s Grit to Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers (the 10,000 hour rule), among others regarding deliberate practice. Range suggests it is better (overall) to look past this and push yourself wider, rather than deeper. Surprisingly, Gladwell actually agrees with him.

Explore the World

Secondly, having a broad education permits students to explore many things, study a wide array of subjects, and most importantly learn to fail. To this end, Chapter 2: How the Wicked World was Made, addresses key research work of noted educator James Flynn. This leads to Epstein’s story about the value of the University of Chicago’s generalization degree:

Chicago has long prided itself on a core curriculum dedicated to interdisciplinary critical thinking. The two-year core, according to the university, “is intended as an introduction to the tools of inquiry used in every discipline—science, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences. The goal is not just to transfer knowledge, but to raise fundamental questions and to become familiar with the powerful ideas that shape our society.
Page 60-61

There is a logical position that students may indeed benefit from this approach to general studies at the bachelor level.

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Education Innovation Reading

Latest Read: The Infinite Game

The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek. During my read of Start With Why it was natural to seek Simon’s view of long term leadership. A few hits and misses along the way but it was another enjoyable read.

the infinite game by simon sinek

Simon introduces the theme contrasting finite against infinite. In other words, simple examples of football or chess, these games have time limits, rules are standardized and the players are known to the opponent. It is easy to find a winner and loser at the end of similar finite sporting events.

However the focus of his book is on infinite games, business, war, politics, and even our own personal lives. There is no time limit, rules change over time, and the players as well. No winners or losers appear on an infinite stage, above all, movements are forwards or backwards.

However, with my deep interest in learning about the long US war in Vietnam it was a bit surprising to see Simon tee off his book with the 1968 Tet Offensive. This was his pinning idea of infinite. While the US involvement in Vietnam extended back to the 1940s, and French colonial rule began in the late 1860s, it was a shame China’s 1000 year rule over Vietnam was not mentioned.

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Education Innovation Reading

Latest Read: Principles

Principles by Ray Dalio is an interesting read. With no prior knowledge of Ray’s life, his story is easily inspirational. Ray founded Bridgewater Associates in 1975. He is straightforward about the difficulties encounter at the beginning the company.

principals by ray dalio

In other words, I enjoyed learning of his early life. He addresses his career in part one: “Where I’m coming from” begins in 1947 and carries Ray’s life to 2017.

Looking back after running Bridgewater for so many years afforded him a series of behaviors that helped drive his success. At the same time he does address difficult decisions that resulted in layoffs when his business was struggling.

Similarly, his key advice drawing on his long experience is to rely upon hard data (or evidence) to make smart decisions. On the other hand opinion based decisions are difficult and require those with an established history.

Above all, Ray discusses over and over: “Idea Meritocracy = Radical Truth + Radical Transparency + Believability-Weighted Decision Making.”

However there are quite a lot of ideas to absorb. For many including myself the book becomes very detailed. Furthermore, Ray indicates the behaviors he has identified may take over 18 months of focus to see results.

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Design Education Innovation Maker Reading

Latest Read: Room to Dream

Room to Dream by David Lynch. David is one of cinema’s most creative and avaunt-guard film directors today. In other words a “regular” autobiography of his life and art does not fit. This is more of a memoir with journalist Kristine McKenna, a writer for the Los Angeles Times until 1998.

Room to Dream

Room to Dream easily addresses his biographical story. His creative life as an artist flourished in art school. The challenges for David over many years in creating The Elephant Man is insightful. His story of making Eraserhead, during his time with AFI takes center stage in his life. As David’s first recognized film, the story is enjoyable to discover his experiences how the movie came together over a long period.

At the same time the book reveals small, yet fun stories of his life that contributed to elements in both Twin Peaks and later in the movie Mulholland Drive. Fans of his hit television show would relish how ‘the bag that smiles’ came into the show’s script. On the other hand ABC Television purchased the rights to develop Mulholland Drive as a television series. With David’s surreal style, how did anyone at ABC think they could deliver this work as a normal TV show?

After that, Blue Velvet, Lost Highway, Island Empire and Wild at Heart are notable movies addressed by David. But they have passing paragraphs of insight.

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Cyberinfrastructure Education Google Network Reading Technology Vietnam War

Latest Read: Surveillance Valley

Surveillance Valley: The Secret Military History of the Internet by Yasha Levine. This book is an amazing and enlightening deep dive into the history of the US military-driven internet. Google and Facebook have become today the major players of a corporate DARPA.

Surveillance Valley

The message of Surveillance Valley is twofold: the US military has held the key, foundational role of today’s internet. After all, ARPANet, the initial ‘internet’ went into production in 1966.

The second message is the evolution of counterinsurgency from signals intelligence to Google Chrome. This will surprise many. This can be a very interesting read for our times.

At first glance this story is about Google and law enforcement surveillance within the City of Oakland. Yet, Yasha takes the reader all the way back to the Vietnam War. For instance, he lays the foundation for today’s internet to Project AGILE, an early clandestine effort to aid the French to recolonize Indochina after World War II. Likewise we did not learn from their failures.

This highly secret project launched under Truman as the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), and rebranded Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Those early cyclical electronic counterinsurgency efforts in the mid-1950s failed.

In other words, the opening chapters actually provide a very detailed history lesson regarding Presidents Truman and Eisenhower. Data harvesting, aka “counterinsurgency” was flourishing in the Cold War. The impact of Sputnik and French defeats in Vietnam drove counterinsurgency efforts.

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