Here is a collection of sources relevant to our many issues in society today. Only by understanding problems can we begin to solve them. A false diagnosis leads to bad medicine. I have differing opinions with some things, but respect these sources and encourage you to do your own research.
Documentaries
Hypernormalisation
The rise of Trump and the internet paralleled by US foreign policy distortions between Syria and Libya. Argues that governments, financiers, and technological utopians have, since the 1970s, given up on the complex “real world” and built a simpler “fake world” run by corporations and kept stable by politicians.
Adam Curtis [2016]
How Obama’s “pivot to Asia” policy has been carried on by Trump and the potential disastrous consequences
John Pilger [2015]
The Social Dilemma
The film explores the rise of social media and the damage it has caused to society, focusing on its exploitation of its users for financial gain through surveillance capitalism and data mining, how its design is meant to nurture an addiction, its use in politics, its impact on mental health (including the mental health of adolescents and rising teen suicide rates), and its role in spreading disinfo.
Netflix [2020]
Pandemic Prevention
A lecture on the history of infectious disease in humans, overwhelmingly from domesticated animals. A new wave of disease has begun accelerated by factory farming and antibiotic use in livestock.
Dr. Michael Greger [2008]
Damnation
Books
Death and Life of Great American Cities
Legendary book on flaws inherently built into city planning. The author appears as a character in a TV show, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”
Jane Jacobs [1961]
How To Hide An Empire
How the USA absorbed territories across the globe, ultimately the entirety of the Spanish empire. Also how the treatment of those conquered peoples was just as awful. Lecture on YouTube here. Available in ebook and audio formats.
Daniel Immerwahr [2019]
“The End of Policing”
History of policing from slave patrols in Sparta to the south. How the main issues of society are often worsened by policing as we know it.
Alex Vitale [2018]
Spillover
Tracing various viral threats to their origins.
David Quammen [October 2012]
Lies My Teacher Told Me Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong
Critically examines twelve popular American high school history textbooks and concludes that the textbook authors propagate false, Eurocentric and mythologized views of American history.
James W. Loewen [1995]
The Great Degeneration
Excellent analysis on the disintegration of social networks in the USA leading to our demise. Also notes the circulation of power centers in world history as China may be taking that spot again unless we do something other than social networks, which are inferior substitutes to groups that help lift eachother up.
Niall Ferguson [2012]
The Great Influenza
Considered the best book on the 1918 influenza pandemic.
John M. Barry [October 2005]
Weapons of Mass Instruction
Focuses on mechanisms of familiar schooling that cripple imagination, discourage critical thinking, and create a false view of learning as a by-product of rote-memorization drills.
John Taylor Gatto [2008]
Deadliest Enemy
Veteran epidemiologist’s take on assessing the greatest threats from infectious diseases. One chapter is dedicated to coronaviruses. His podcast The Osterholm Update is featured in the next section.
Dr. Michael Osterholm [2017]
Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business
This pre-internet book notes TV as a flawed medium subordinating information to entertainment. An inherent outcome is citizens’ rights are exchanged for consumers’ amusement. 1984 and Brave New World are referred to regularly.
Neil Postman [1985]
Podcasts
Nutrition Facts w/ Dr. Michael Greger
Have you ever wondered if there’s a natural way to lower your high blood pressure, guard against Alzheimer’s, lose weight, and feel better? Well as it turns out there is. Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM, founder of NutritionFacts.org, and author of the instant New York Times bestseller “How Not to Die” celebrates evidence-based nutrition to add years to our life and life to our years.
Hosted by Dr. Michael Greger
The Osterholm Update: COVID-19
A weekly report from infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH. Dr. Osterholm is the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota and has spent a career investigating outbreaks. Since 2005, he has emphasized supply chain and other vulnerabilities and a critical need for pandemic preparedness. In this podcast, Dr. Osterholm dissects the latest COVID-19 news, data, and guidance.
Dr. Michael Osterholm
Ologies
Volcanoes. Trees. Drunk butterflies. Mars missions. Slug sex. Death. Beauty standards. Anxiety busters. Beer science. Bee drama. Take away a pocket full of science knowledge and charming, bizarre stories about what fuels these professional -ologists’ obsessions. Humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward asks smart people stupid questions and the answers might change your life.
Alie Ward
The Movement Fix
About health, fitness, nutrition, and human movement to help you become a master of your body.
Hosted by Ryan DeBell, M.S., D.C.
The Rich Roll Podcast
A master-class in personal and professional development, ultra-athlete, wellness evangelist and bestselling author Rich Roll delves deep with the world’s brightest and most thought provoking thought leaders to educate, inspire and empower you to unleash your best, most authentic self.
Hosted by Rich Roll
Lectures/Speeches
How mindfulness changes the emotional life of our brains
“Why is it that some people are more vulnerable to life’s slings and arrows and others more resilient?” In this eye-opening talk, Richard Davidson discusses how mindfulness can improve well-being and outlines strategies to boost four components of a healthy mind: awareness, connection, insight, and purpose.
Richard J. Davidson
Jason Robo 