Steve Tjiang’s Reviews > Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind > Status Update
Steve Tjiang
is on page 347 of 512
Very interesting read so far, and written in a very easy to read style. Direct and simple.
The book is trying to answer why the economy expanded so much in the modern era, post-1500. Appears to be a virtuous cycle, of a belief in "progress" and a better future, enabling the expansion of credit and investment. Ultimately the belief in progress is grounded in the coupling of empire/imperialism and science.
— May 18, 2019 10:45AM
The book is trying to answer why the economy expanded so much in the modern era, post-1500. Appears to be a virtuous cycle, of a belief in "progress" and a better future, enabling the expansion of credit and investment. Ultimately the belief in progress is grounded in the coupling of empire/imperialism and science.
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Steve’s Previous Updates
Steve Tjiang
is on page 405 of 512
The chapter "The Permanent Revolution" describes the influences of the industrial revolution on life. It created the need for synchronized time, needed to keep assembly lines working. Next, the chapter describes how state and market broke down family and community, ultimately creating the idea the "individual" divorced from family/community. Things are necessary uniformly better with the arrangements, just different.
— May 22, 2019 07:13AM
Steve Tjiang
is on page 373 of 512
This chapter suggests that capitalism, the belief in progress, and investing to create an ever bigger pie is a powerful force, more powerful than kings and empires. The concept of credit and trust is important. Trust of repayment, rule of law and protection of owners rights means a country could raise enough capital to defeat even big empires. Examples: Dutch vs Dutch, French vs British.
— May 18, 2019 07:08PM
