Five Links - September 2023
Every month I try to share the most mind-expanding links to read/watch/listen. If you find these interesting, please do share with your friends.
What Happened in Vegas by David Hill
How Jimmy Hoffa built the Teamster’s modest pension fund into something that “operated as one of America’s largest banks,” and what happened when he turned it away from conservative public market investments toward bets like financing casinos with the mafia.
SVB's Demise: The Hidden Cost of Overcharging in the Competitive Banking Landscape
Contrary to popular belief, the collapse of SVB was not due to a sudden frenzy of withdrawals. Their practice of overcharging customers would have driven them out of business if the March 2023 collapse hadn’t gotten there first.
Bonus (Listen): Bryan Johnson: How to Age in Reverse on World of DaaS
Bryan Johnson is spending millions of dollars a year to reverse his biological age, and it’s working. His program is intense, but he shares the most easily replicable pieces of it (which are more approachable than you might think).
How Larry Gagosian Reshaped the Art World by Patrick Radden Keefe
A look into the secretive empire of art dealer Larry Gagosian, a unique global force who helped make the art world the $65 billion industry it is today.
“Winners Take None” by Hunter Walk
Most software markets are winner take all. Some of the most (over)hyped VC-backed “tech companies” of the past decade are probably winner take none, and maybe never were tech companies either.
Amazon’s Cloud Crisis: How AWS Will Lose the Future of Computing by Dylan Patel
A comprehensive look at the rise (and potential fall) of an $80 billion business.
The wonder drug I hoped would stop my 11.30pm fridge raids for cheddar and chorizo didn’t work for me. But I still believe it could change the lives of millions by Boris Johnson
Whatever you think of Boris Johnson, he’s a masterful writer. No US president since Thomas Jefferson could write like him.
Bonus (Listen): Steven Pinker: Human Cognition vs. AI
Steven brings his perspective from cognitive psychology to explain how AI does (and does not) mirror the human brain. We also discuss rationality, intellectual freedom and super powerful AGI.
Bonus (Data Dump): From Swiping to Sexting: The Enduring Gender Divide in American Dating and Relationships by Daniel A. Cox
Excellent in-depth data on everything from online dating to the effects of Covid and class divisions.
Bonus (Watch): The Prestige
One of the very best movies to watch with your 10-year-old.
More reading links at https://twitter.com/AurenReads
Graph of the Month:
Friends: super important in teens and 20s. Then less important. Than more important as senior citizens
Books I read last month:
The Big Break by Ben Terris
Noise by Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, & Cass Sunstein
The Gray Lady Winked by Ashley Rindsberg
HT: Sam Lessin, Tony Brasunas
Auren Hoffman is CEO of SafeGraph (geospatial data on physical places) and GP at Flex Capital ($200M Series A and B VC firm). Engage on Twitter: @auren
and please share Five Links with your friends.
Hope you enjoy Summation by Auren Hoffman. Please also follow @auren on Twitter.