Thursdays are all about longform links on Abnormal Returns. Where possible free links to behind a paywall are used. You can check out last week’s linkfest including a look at how we get tripped up by randomness.
Quote of the Day
"Society often assumes that the only way to be passionate is to act extroverted, but that is simply not true."
(Kai Krautter)
Books
- An excerpt from "The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism" by Tim Alberta. (politico.com)
- A Q&A with Sam Wasson author of the new book "The Path to Paradise: A Francis Ford Coppola Story." (insidehook.com)
Venture capital
- No one should be surprised by the drama surrounding OpenAI after learning about its origins. (nytimes.com)
- A profile of under-the-radar European VC firm Hummingbird Ventures. (thegeneralist.substack.com)
Environment
- The carbon credit business has found its way to Africa. (on.ft.com)
- Salmon are disappearing from the Yukon River. (wapo.st)
Longreads
- The great China decoupling is happening, albeit slowly. (noahpinion.blog)
- How much can you cut from a university? West Virginia University may soon find out. (theatlantic.com)
- On the relationship between psychedelics and meaning. (vox.com)
- A profile of Jesse Itzler on his journey to motivational speaker. (newyorker.com)
- What all it takes to shoot 'Sunday Night Football.' (nytimes.com)