Thursdays are all about longform links on Abnormal Returns. You can check out last week’s linkfest including a look at the high price America’s first responders have paid during the pandemic.
Quote of the Day
"The energy system is experiencing the creative disruption Schumpeter described: a full overhaul driven by newer, better, smarter solutions."
(Per Espen Stoknes)
Book excerpts
- An excerpt from Michael Mechanic's new book "Jackpot: How the Super-Rich Really Live―And How Their Wealth Harms Us All." (theatlantic.com)
- An excerpt from Jesse Singal's new book "The Quick Fix: Why Fad Psychology Can’t Cure Our Social Ills.” (wsj.com)
- An excerpt from Leidy Klotz's new book "The Untapped Science of Less." (behavioralscientist.org)
Finance
- A profile of Jeff Yass, co-founder of trading powerhouse Susquehanna International. Group (forbes.com)
- How traditional venture capital is getting disrupted by deep-pocketed outsiders like Tiger Global. (randle.substack.com)
- Making the case that venture capital has failed to support breakthrough technologies. (americanaffairsjournal.org)
Culture
- America had an opportunity to come together for the greater good during pandemic. We failed. (ryanholiday.net)
- How words like 'freedom' help sculpt culture. (moretothat.com)
Sports
- How Mike Forde of Sportology became the go-to resource for NBA owners looking to hire a GM. (theringer.com)
- How Austin FC, of the MLS, planned its launch during pandemic. (theringer.com)
Longreads
- The Wall Street Journal is a paper at war with itself. (nytimes.com)
- Fact-checking is vital and necessary. However it takes place in an environment not receptive to it. (thewalrus.ca)
- Law enforcement agencies are facing increasing retirements and declining applicantions. (time.com)
- We humans like to deny that we are in fact animals. (aeon.co)
- The case against alcohol. (fergus-mccullough.com)