Scott Alexander shares 34 varied links and pieces of information on topics including science, history, politics, and technology, with brief commentary on many items. Longer summary

This post is a collection of 34 diverse links and snippets of information on various topics. It covers subjects ranging from Jeff Bezos' biological father, to studies on Christianity's growth, to climate change discussions, to updates on AI progress. The post also includes commentary on current events like the University of Austin controversy and political polling trends. Many of the links discuss recent scientific studies or historical anecdotes, often with Scott's brief analysis or opinion added. Shorter summary

A review of 'The Wizard and the Prophet' by Charles Mann, exploring contrasting approaches to human-nature relationships through the lives of William Vogt and Norman Borlaug. Longer summary

This review of Charles Mann's 'The Wizard and the Prophet' explores the contrasting approaches to human-nature relationships through the lives of William Vogt (the 'Prophet') and Norman Borlaug (the 'Wizard'). The reviewer initially favors Borlaug's Wizardly approach of using science and technology to solve problems, but later acknowledges the complexity of modern systems may require a more holistic approach. The review covers the book's structure, discussing the biographies of Vogt and Borlaug, and then exploring four key areas: food, water, energy, and climate change. The reviewer concludes by reflecting on the challenges of COVID-19 and the need to continue striving for improvement despite increasing complexity. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander critically examines the concept of growth mindset, expressing skepticism despite compelling studies and discussing various issues with the theory and its interpretation. Longer summary

Scott Alexander examines the concept of growth mindset, expressing skepticism despite compelling studies. He discusses the history of growth mindset research, points out inconsistencies in longitudinal data, and questions the interpretation of experimental results. Scott also criticizes how some proponents use growth mindset to deny the importance of innate ability. While acknowledging the potential benefits of growth mindset, he remains uncertain about its real-world effects and long-term impact. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander shares a diverse collection of links and brief commentary on topics ranging from climate change to social science research, with both serious analysis and humorous observations. Longer summary

This post is a collection of interesting links and brief commentary on various topics. Scott Alexander covers a wide range of subjects, including climate change, economics, social science research, technology, and current events. He shares studies, news articles, and personal observations, often with a skeptical or analytical perspective. The post includes both serious topics and more lighthearted content, reflecting Scott's diverse interests and tendency to explore unconventional ideas. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander presents a diverse collection of interesting links on topics ranging from meditation to global poverty, offering brief summaries and personal commentary. Longer summary

This post is a collection of links to interesting articles and studies on various topics. It covers a wide range of subjects including meditation, Olympic medal psychology, religious beliefs, education systems, diet trends, scientific reproducibility, historical events, and global poverty solutions. Scott Alexander briefly summarizes each link, often adding his own commentary or skepticism. The tone is informative and slightly humorous, with Scott occasionally expressing personal opinions or anecdotes related to the topics. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander presents a diverse collection of recent news items, studies, and interesting facts, covering topics from public health to economics to quirky trivia. Longer summary

This post is a collection of diverse news items, studies, and interesting facts curated by Scott Alexander. It covers a wide range of topics including public health policies, economics, scientific discoveries, social issues, and quirky facts. Scott provides brief commentary on many of the items, often with a touch of humor or irony. The post doesn't have a central theme but rather serves as a roundup of interesting information Scott has come across recently. Shorter summary

Scott shares a diverse collection of interesting links ranging from scientific studies and economic developments to cultural oddities and humor pieces. Longer summary

This is a collection of interesting links covering various topics from science, society, and technology. The links include studies about gender income gaps, nitrogen-fixing crops, racial representation in India, and unusual scientific findings. There are also some humorous entries about autocorrect fails and weather photos, as well as interesting cultural phenomena like the Patel Motel Cartel and Sweden's Gavle Goat. The post combines serious scientific and social commentary with lighter cultural observations. Shorter summary

Scott shares and comments on various interesting links and articles covering topics like science, economics, language, and culture, with his characteristic mix of insight and humor. Longer summary

This is a links post where Scott shares various interesting articles and findings from around the web. He covers topics ranging from scientific discoveries to economics, including responses to his previous writing on contraception, ancient language quirks, physics theories, morality statements, lost cities, Japanese pop culture, and effective altruism. The post maintains a casual, often humorous tone while sharing these diverse pieces of information. Shorter summary

Scott explores the conflicting evidence on whether humans are attracted to genetically similar or dissimilar partners, concluding with a paradoxical observation that both seem true in different contexts. Longer summary

This post discusses the conflicting evidence on whether humans are attracted to genetically similar or dissimilar partners. It starts with the argument for genetic dissimilarity, citing examples from nature and studies on MHC complexes. Then, it presents evidence for genetic similarity, including genetic sexual attraction and studies showing people tend to marry those similar to them. The post concludes that current evidence suggests people are attracted to genetic similarity except for MHC complexes, where they prefer difference. The author expresses confusion about this seemingly contradictory conclusion. Shorter summary