What I’ve been reading
1. Constance Reid, Hilbert. We should all be reading more mathematics these days, right? Because the field is “on fire.” Hilbert is not a bad place to start, and I found this book clear and biographical in a good way. It is less on the math and more closely tied to broader German history. Soon […] The post What I’ve been reading appeared first on Marginal REVOLUTION .
Mathematics is "on fire" right now, and Constance Reid's Hilbert book is a great place to delve into the subject. While it focuses more on German history than the equations themselves, it's clear and engaging.
For those interested in the future of technology, Ben Buchanan and Tantum Collins have penned a comprehensive account of chip bans, technological advances, and AI policy under the Biden administration. Their firsthand experience shines through in "The Bitter Struggle."
In an unexpected turn, Maria Edgeworth, a 19th-century Anglo-Irish novelist, has been given a fresh examination. Jeanna Smialek's study of her work, "The Invisible Hand of Maria Edgeworth," is a well-deserved spotlight on the economist in disguise.
However, not all books in this reading list are winners. Anton Jägér's "Hyperpolitics" fails to deliver on its promise, with the author lacking sufficient factual knowledge about the world.
Robert Alter's "The Language of Fiction" offers a delightful exploration of why reading fiction is a rewarding experience. Alter's impeccable taste is evident, though the last pages dip into the realm of LLMs.
For those curious about wealth and economic disparity, Robert Alter's "The Everywhere Millionaire" provides a data-driven take on who is really rich in America and how they got there. Owen Zidar and Eric Zwick's "The Everywhere Millionaire" is grounded in real data and written by real economists.
AI's impact on democracy is a pressing concern, and Matthew Botvinick's "AI & Political Freedom" tackles this issue with analysis and social science. Currently affiliated with Anthropic, Botvinick brings valuable insights.
Lastly, Branko Milanovic's "The Great Global Transformation" offers a unique perspective on the United States, China, and the reshaping of the world economic order. His concept of National Market Liberalism is a valuable addition to the discourse.
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