Darya Sinusoid, Author at Shortform Books

Mitigating Political Polarization in America

What are the dangers of political polarization? What might some solutions be to mitigate political polarization in America? According to Levitsky and Ziblatt, the authors of How Democracies Die, party polarization tends to lead to the erosion of democratic norms and the destruction of democracy. They define polarization as the disappearance of the middle ground in politics, in which parties do not differ merely on basic ideology or matters of public policy—but, instead, are sorted into mutually incompatible worldviews. In this article, we’ll discuss Levitsky and Ziblatt’s solution to the extreme partisan divide.

What Is the Curse of Dimensionality?

What is the curse of dimensionality? Is it ever possible to predict the behavior of a complex system? The curse of dimensionality is a mathematical principle that states that as a system grows, the rate at which it becomes complex accelerates. In his book Skin in the Game, Nassim Taleb argues that because of the curse of dimensionality, complex systems are impossible to reliably predict—any adjustment made to a large, complex system will cause an avalanche of unintended side effects. Without the true knowledge gained from failure, we would never know enough to navigate the infinitely complex world. In this

Your Creative Genius Is Outside of You

Do you believe everyone has a creative genius inside? Or do you think creativity is the prerogative of the lucky few? In her book Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert advises that you view your creative genius as an entity that exists outside of you which occasionally graces you with visits. This perspective, she says, helps you to hang on to your creative freedom over the long term by reducing personal responsibility for brilliance. In this article, we’ll explore Gilbert’s concept of creative genius.

Centralized Government Does More Harm Than Good

What are the disadvantages of centralized government? Why does concentrating power in one central authority do more harm than good? In his book Skin in the Game, Nassim Taleb argues that centralization of power is not just suboptimal, but damaging to human societies. Large governments manage such large, complex systems that their intervention and attempts at restructuring are far more likely to be harmful than beneficial. In this article, we’ll explore Taleb’s argument against centralized government.

Understanding the Conscious and Subconscious Minds

What is the difference between the conscious and the subconscious mind? How much of the brain activity takes place in your subconscious? How do the conscious and the subconscious minds interact? Your mind is made up of two parts: the conscious mind and the subconscious mind. Over 90% of your brain’s activity takes place in your subconscious mind—it’s a reservoir of thoughts, feelings, and memories that lies beneath your conscious awareness. Your conscious mind contains all of the thoughts and feelings that you’re aware of at any given moment. In this article, we’ll explore each part individually and how they

Nassim Taleb: What Drives Virtuous Behavior?

What drives virtuous behavior? How can readiness to take risks reflect one’s ability to do good deeds for others? According to Nassim Taleb, having your skin in the game (the willingness to take risks and make sacrifices) is a necessary ingredient in any good deed imaginable. Without skin in the game, virtuous behavior that appears honorable on the surface is, at best, cheapened and ineffective, and at worst, inauthentic and malicious. In both cases, Taleb argues that the risks of skin in the game prove that you are what you claim to be. In this article, we’ll explore Taleb’s notion

Why Does Inequality Exist in the World?

Why does inequality exist? Do you think some economic equality is healthy for the world? Economic inequality is a sad reality of life. Interestingly, however, people around the world think that some economic inequality is good—although they want far less than there currently is. In this article, we’ll discuss why most people don’t want total equality. We’ll also discuss some hypothetical opinions as to what level of inequality would be ideal.

Elizabeth Gilbert: Big Magic Is the Realm of Creativity

How does Elizabeth Gilbert define “Big Magic”? Is creativity a prerogative of the lucky few or can anyone learn to be creative? In her book Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert argues that creativity is not just a domain of a few brilliant professional artists, but rather an enriching way of life anyone can adopt at any time. If you embrace, creativity, she says, you’ll experience “Big Magic”: a mystical or spiritual force of creativity that brings joy and purpose. In this article, we’ll explore four keys to a good relationship with your creativity and “Big Magic” or Creative Sorcery.

The Virtues of Decentralized Government

What are the downsides of a centralized government? Why is managing decentralized power structures (ironically) easier than centralized systems? In his book Skin in the Game, Nassim Taleb criticizes centralized power structures in which a few people make decisions that affect everyone. He argues that centralized systems are far too complex for individuals to effectively manage from the top down. Instead, Taleb advocates for the decentralization of power—smaller territories are more likely to govern themselves effectively. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of decentralized government: greater accountability and more democratic representation.

Big Magic: Book Review and Critical Reception

Is Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic worth reading? What is the key premise you can take away from the book? Big Magic is author Elizabeth Gilbert’s guide to leading a more fulfilled life by making creativity, in any guise that suits you, a part of your daily existence. The book offers both spiritual wisdom on how to work with the magical forces of creativity, as well as suggestions on how to create effectively and productively. The following Big Magic book review covers the book’s context, background, and critical reception.