Vinay Wagh

Think Again by Adam Grant The ability to rethink and unlearn is often more valuable than intelligence or knowledge itself. Modern society is increasingly polarized. People tend to cling to their views even when faced with new evidence. Grant’s goal in the book is to show how individuals, teams, and societies can cultivate the habit of questioning assumptions and updating beliefs. The Danger of Mental Fossils We routinely update our phones, our software, our calendars. But we rarely schedule updates for our beliefs. We should periodically ask: • What assumption am I taking for granted?  • What belief have I not questioned recently?  • What evidence might change my mind? • Why am I supporting /opposing this politician?  In a discussion we listen to automatically support a politician unnecessarily. It like the “Hallo Effect” where we if like one thing about a person, we tend to assume many other good things about her/him, even without evidence or it is like the “Horn Effect”...

  Prisoners of Geography by Adam Grant Countries may change leaders, economies, and ideologies but they cannot change their geography. A nation’s prosperity is not determined only by manpower, natural resources, education standards, or geopolitics. Geography plays a massive role in deciding whether a country becomes a superpower, struggles to develop, remains isolated, or connects with the world. The five important points in the book are: • Despite its massive size, Russia has always feared invasion due to its open plains.  • China seeks control and stability because of crowded borders and trade routes.  • America became powerful due to safe oceans and navigable rivers.  • Africa struggles partly because geography limits connectivity. (Waterfalls, Rapids and other infrastructural challenges) • The Middle East remains tense because of borders, deserts, and oil. The details.... Russia is geographically vulnerable Russia a North European Plain, is a flat stre...