Transcript: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/dispatchesendofworld/2023/10/tragedies-truths-and-technologies/ 

Historically we didn't worry about wars in far away places because we weren't aware of them. Now we're aware of them, but with the rise of AI we're going to have a similar difficulty acquiring accurate information. This is going to complicate our ability to intervene righteously. 

1. Addiction by Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas by: Natasha Dow Schüll

2. The Evolutionary Limits of Liberalism: Democratic Problems, Market Solutions and the Ethics of Preference Satisfaction by: Filipe Nobre Faria

3. A Language Older Than Words by: Derrick Jensen

4. WTF?!: An Economic Tour of the Weird by: Peter T. Leeson

5. Blowback (Second Edition): The Costs and Consequences of American Empire by: Chalmers Johnson

6. The Sun Is a Compass: A 4,000-Mile Journey into the Alaskan Wilds by: Caroline Van Hemert

7. So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love by: Cal Newport

8. Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy by: Jostein Gaarder

9. The Sandman 4 by: Neil Gaiman

10. American Gods by: Neil Gaiman

11. The Eye of the Bedlam Bride: Dungeon Crawler Carl, Book 6 by: Matt Dinniman

12. Letters to a Young Mormon by: Adam S. Miller

Transcript: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/dispatchesendofworld/2023/10/would-you-wager-on-pascals-mugging/ 

Imagine that someone walks up to you and demands all your money. If you fail to comply they threaten to kill all the inhabitants of some far off planet. How would you react? And is this similar to Pascal's Wager? 

Transcript: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/dispatchesendofworld/2023/10/betting-on-the-future/ 

There are three obvious paths forward: religion, atheism and transhumanism. But each of these paths must be chosen. There's also a fourth path, that of apathy. Which should we choose?

Transcript: https://www.wearenotsaved.com/p/ai-risk-might-be-more-subtle-than 

Depressed people are more prone to addiction. If social media engagement looks a lot like addiction, does that mean algorithms for increasing engagement also increase depression?

Transcript: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/dispatchesendofworld/2023/09/the-greatest-three-nephites-story-ever-told/ 

It is believed that, during his mortal ministry, Jesus granted immortality to three of His American apostles. Known as the Three Nephites they now wander the Earth until His return, doing good. This has lead to many stories of miraculous assistance. This is the greatest of all those stories.

Transcript: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/dispatchesendofworld/2023/09/faith-ufos-the-supernatural-and-transistor-radios/ 

Why are many people so willing to believe evidence of UFOs and Aliens, and so unwilling to believe evidence for God?

Transcript: https://www.wearenotsaved.com/p/speculative-attempts-to-complicate 

When things aren't going well, those in power will sometimes introduce some speculative chaos in the hopes that what emerges on the other side will be better. It mostly doesn't work.

Transcript: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/dispatchesendofworld/2023/09/the-thickness-of-the-world/ 

In the book Till We Have Faces by CS Lewis there is a scene where the King is arguing with a priest about what seems to be an unreasonable demand from one of the gods. The priest says something profound, something I'm still trying to wrap my head around. This episode is an effort to do just that.

1. The World Beyond Your Head: On Becoming an Individual in an Age of Distraction by: Matthew B. Crawford 

2. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by: Oliver Burkeman

3. Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents—and What They Mean for America's Future by: Jean M. Twenge

4. When Violence Is the Answer: Learning How to Do What It Takes When Your Life Is at Stake by: Tim Larkin

5. Ship of Fools: How a Selfish Ruling Class Is Bringing America to the Brink of Revolution by: Tucker Carlson

6. Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by: Gino Wickman

7. One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by: B. J. Novak

8. Animal Farm by: George Orwell

9. Slaughter-House Five (Graphic Novel) by: Kurt Vonnegut and Ryan North

10. Children of the Mind (The Ender Saga, 4) by: Orson Scott Card

11. Chariots of the Gods by: Erich von Däniken