Crossing the Chasm

TBD
Geoffrey Moore

Algorithms to Live By

Algorithms to Live By is a very enjoyable and applicable book by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths that explores how we can use knowledge from computer science to guide decisions in our lives.

Whilst surfing around for a synopsis I found this excellent summary, please take a look and come back afterwards for my own observations below.

Scheduling

There are many algorithms for planning the day. One thing that stood out was thinking about small and large tasks and how sometimes a small task can block the large task.

I think I like to do planning that involves planning the large things first and then doing the small tasks after the large ones. I think I also will talk with the rest of the office about doing this type of planning (which we already do to some extend).

For my personal life I also like this with regards to what to do when I get home. First do X, Y, Z (e.g. write, stretch, read) and only then think of what else to do.

Caching

You can see caching as the amount of information you have to keep in your head. You’re not very good at it. So write down almost anything. I always have my notebook with me or can make a note in Gmail so I think I’m quite good here, but it can be even better (e.g. by then sorting those notes to the relevant places). And also using Todoist more.

Optimal Stopping

The next few lines are a bit tongue-in-cheek. With optimal stopping you look at when to stop doing X to find the perfect Y. Dating can be an example here and in the book they mention that stopping at about 27 should be the right age (if I remember correctly). Guess around which age I met my girlfriend.

Explore/Exploit

With regards to this algorithm I can say that I like how this makes you look positively at doing something again (exploit) because you liked it (e.g. eat at a specific restaurant) and not doing something new (explore).

For me the practical examples are friends (see many of the same ones again and again), foods (where I could explore more, also because I think there is value in the exploring itself), music (Spotify does a good job of balancing both).

Give and Take

Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success by Adam Grant divides people into three distinct groups; takers, matchers, and givers. In 320 pages we are educated on why nice guys finish first. How powerless communication can be strong, and how from worrying you can go to success. Supplemented with a rich body of research, this social psychology book should be the one you get to read now!

Giving is the act of expending energy whilst not expecting anything in return. Richard Dawkins has argued that genes are inherently selfish, but on the group level, we can be amazingly altruistic. Givers are not the people at the centre of attention, they can very well be sensitive introverted people. What they are is considerate, consistent, caring and cooperative. Where takers and matchers see the number of shares/pieces of the pie as fixed (the former wanting to take a piece, the latter exchanging one), the givers look for ways to enlarge the pie for everyone to take a piece.

A word of caution is in its place here. When giving a person must in all cases not manoeuvre away from his or her own desires. A giver should be wary of himself or herself and others alike. A clear goal should lead his or her life, do know what you yourself want to achieve, whilst helping others. The people you help should in the first instance be everyone, but when confronted with a consistent taker, take your space and do not get overrun by his or her requests. Do not become the sucker.

Give and Take is filled with rich examples of successful givers. This ranges from Fortune 500 executives to volunteer teachers in the tougher neighbourhoods in America. One of the recurring examples, maybe even the role model of givers, is Adam Rifkin. He has been called the most connected man in America and has connections ranging from Hollywood to The Capital. He has not done this by taking resources from people or working his ass of (which he probably also does). He has achieved this by utilizing two principles. Giving people 1) a chance to connect to someone else that may help them to achieve something better together, and 2) giving honest five minutes feedback to people. But of course, these two skills are only two of the many things a giver does.

Adam Grant, a Wharton professor, has worked a long time on this masterpiece of a book. It is complementary to Quit by Susan Cain, they both emphasize that a great leader is not the extraverted he-man, but has other less superficial characteristics. Grant has also managed to spot how trends work, and via this is very alike to Malcolm Gladwell in identifying connectors. In the end, it all boils down to presenting man with a more stable long-term strategy to gaining resources. Sometimes being the nice guy in the room will have you overlooked, but in the long-term will get you ahead. Become convinced yourself by reading the book.

The Innovator’s Dilemma

TBD

Alexander the Great

“There is nothing impossible to him who will try” – Alexander III of Macedon

Greatness comes at a price. This is what we can learn from the biography of Alexander the Great by Jacob Abbott if we only had one short sentence to review the book. There are many biographies written about Alexander the Great and each has a different focus. Jacob Abbott decided to keep it relatively simple, short and with a focus on the character of Alexander. His histories of warfare are mentioned, as well his rise to power, but both in shorter detail. If you want to learn about the personality traits of the greatest conquer in history, this is the book for you.

As a young boy, Alexander was raised in relative luxury. On the one hand, he was the son of Philip III of Macedon, born into incredible wealth. On the other hand, he was trained to physical excellence, did not bother with exclusive food or other displays of wealth. He was trained in warfare and from early on learned how to be a leader. One of the examples is how he tamed his horse Bechepalas. At only 10 years old he read the body language of the horse, figured out that it was distressed by all the attention, his own shadow and the nervous people around him, and then took the necessary actions to calm him down. In this he achieved to tame the horse, a feat that none of the horsemen (all double or more his age) had been able to achieve.

After the tragic death of his father, Alexander became the leader of his people. He did not try and change the way the country was being run. He did not replace the men that had advised his father but embraced the knowledge they possessed and respected their authority. By being humble he quickly gained the trust of his advisors and was embraced as the true leader of his people.

Even with his enemies, he had the same understanding. He was very successful in warfare and conquered many countries. In concurring a city he would always offer the opportunity for the people to join him before he would crash down upon them. Even when a military confrontation had preceded, people who openly supported him were spared from slavery, as where religious ministers and poets. When capturing the family of one of his greatest enemies (Darius), he left them to live on in their wealth. Overlooking the share brutality of his force (Alexander very probably is responsible for the most murders in the history of mankind) there was a sense of justice to his actions.

Justice was complemented by the sheer focus and determination he possessed. His goal was to rule the known world (to which he succeeded with grace). In effecting this goal he stuck to one distinct military configuration, the phalanx. In the phalanx the men walked side to side, carrying a shield on the left, and a long spear on the right. In that time this mass of people became impenetrable as the shields could be used to become one massive unit.  Both his focus in battle and in strategy can be compared to the hedgehog concept as proposed by Jim Collins in Good to Great. The hedgehog concept states that a company (or person) is best not to have many different goals, tactics and strategies, but to focus on one thing only. By laying a focus on one thing only, a person is able to excel and become the best, as did Alexander in conquering the world by using the phalanx.

Things start going downhill after the first invasion of Asia Minor. He rejects the offer made by Darius to receive a significant amount of land, stating that he (as the King of Asia) is the only one to redistribute land. Then he undertook the siege to capture Tyra, but at the end of the prolonged battle ended up killing all men and selling women and children into slavery. After concurring Egypt he had himself declared ‘Master of the Universe’, there was nothing left of the prior humility.

Humility was also gone in his own appearance. First despising the luxurious displays of the Persian wealthy, he himself became more and more acquainted with wearing this kind of clothing. Moderation was taken over by excessive drinking and might have even been the cause of the burning of Xerxes palace. This in the end also was the cause of his own death, dying roughly two weeks after two nights of heavy drinking and a subsequent fever.

Alexander the Great did not build his empire on the notion to last forever. Much of the affairs of the empire were dependent on him. This does not mean that he personally oversaw the many details of his ruling, but that his character was what build it all. With him gone the empire soon broke up into many pieces and there was no one to follow in his footsteps. Although Alexander the Great started with a perfect character, the power he attained got to him and eventually meant the downfall of him and his empire.

Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all – Alexander III of Macedon

At the end of his biography of Alexander the Great, Job Abbott ponders one very significant question: What if only Alexander only had used his awesome powers for good? In his lifetime many people prospered, but an even greater number suffered and died in consequence of his ever-expanding empire. Reading about the life of Alexander the Great is very interesting and leaves you wondering how to maintain a good character when it matters. It may not be the best book to consider when thinking about leadership or character, but is definitively one that you should read when convenient.

Hannibal

“I will either find a way, or make one.” – Hannibal

Lessons Learnt: War is the opposite of commerce. Reckless ambition will get you somewhere, but in the end that somewhere will be under the ground. History is written by the victors.

Hannibal is one of the most remembered leaders of history. Every history textbook (at least in Europe) writes about his travels through the Alps, his attack of Italy (then the Roman Empire) and his subsequent demise. What many forget is the historical impact that Hannibal has had on the world, what the consequences of his battles have done for Italy, but even more for the Carthaginian empire (I bet you haven’t even heard of it). Jacob Abbott takes us, once again, on a journey through history and introduces Hannibal: Maker of History.

Hannibal Barca, son of Hamilcar Barca, was a brilliant strategist. As soon as he became of age he rose in rank within the army of Carthage and become one of its greatest generals. Carthage itself is an ancient empire that occupied the other side of the Mediterranean Sea from the Roman Empire. It lay in parts of countries now called Spain, Morocco, Liberia and Algeria. It was known for its commerce and found its origin from Tyre, the fortress city that almost successfully fought of Alexander the Great.

If Carthage was so known for its commerce, why then would Hannibal try and subdue the Romans? This hatred for the Romans originated from the first Punic War. In this 24 year war, the Romans almost completely defeated the Carthaginians and became the seed for Hannibal’s anger. In the following decades, he would go on to invade Italy (travelling via Spain and France) and almost crush the Romans.

Hannibal was a master of tactics. Even before I discuss his tactics in war, I would like to point out his savviness in politics. When opposed by Hanno for taking the command of the army he used his strength, youth and vigour to his advantage. He knew that great stories and promises do well and that in the end, even the best arguments can lose from passion (as illustrated by Cleopatra a small 200 years later).

In war, he knew even better what to do. When marching through part of nowadays France, he won the hearts of the local governments by making clear that he was only passing through and had no intention of hurting them. In the Alps, he received guidance from the locals and led his troops (including elephants) up into the mountains. And when he finally traversed the Alps, before meeting the Romans, showed his men the following. He gathered a few soldiers he had captured from traitorous mountaineers and let them fight one-on-one. He promised the victor freedom and kept to his word. After that, he told his men: We are these soldiers, the men that have to fight for victory. But it will be easy, we are brave and strong men who will face the weaker forces of Scipio, we will be the victors.

“I am not carrying on a war of extermination against the Romans. I am contending for honor and empire. My ancestors yielded to Roman valor. I am endeavoring that others, in their turn, will be obliged to yield to my good fortune, and my valor.“ – Hannibal

In subsequent battles, Hannibal conquered most of Italy but never succeeded to take Rome. In the battle of Cannæ, he won a battle of 50.000 versus 80.000 men by faking a half surrender and later attacking the Romans in the back. In the end, he was not defeated because his army was not strong enough (most of the time he had won with smaller armies, but better tactics). In the end, he lost the war because he faced a better strategist than himself, Scipio – the son of one he faced in the very beginning after crossing the Alps. After 17 years of war, Hannibal was defeated, the second Punic war ended, and Carthage was back to the way it was.

But the flame that Hannibal ignited stayed lid for 52 years, after which the third (and final) Punic War broke out. The Carthaginians lose the war and are to surrender. The Romans enforce their, very harsh, conditions for peace by taking the sons of the most prominent families of Carthage. The Carthaginians first resist but then comply with the demands. Scipio, however, had not made all his demands, he wanted to destroy Carthage itself. Again emotions win from reason and when the Carthaginians have already surrendered their weapons and are at a very strong disadvantage, they start to fight back. Every brick is turned into a stone to throw, hairs are bundled to make strings for bows, and the Carthaginians fight bravely for their city.

Alas, in the end, it goes down in flames. The conquests of Hannibal result in the downfall of the Carthaginian Empire. As was the case with Alexander the Great, Hannibal was responsible for many deaths, as much that in each Roman family a brother or nephew was most likely to have died because of him. In the end, it has costed not only lives, but an entire empire to perish from his actions. In yet another great book by Jacob Abbott the whole scene, spanning more than 200 years is described in detail. It provides enough stories to give a detailed look into the specific history, and at the same time describes the era and leaves enough room for philosophical reflections to which I am prone.

Cleopatra

“I will not be triumphed over.”  – Cleopatra

Lessons learnt: Lust and vice can corrupt great leaders and topple large empires. Normal life can continue relatively peaceful in spite of turmoil in royal families.

Cleopatra comes from a family that has left its mark by engaging in crime and vice. Many, or maybe all, of her predecessors engaged in acts such as using the wealth of the nation for themselves, adultery and incest. For a very long time, Egypt had Alexandria as its capital, thanking its origin to Alexander the Great. Back in ancient times (but also now), Egypt was relatively isolated from the rest of the world. Ptolemy was the first ruler of Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great and started a long reign of prosperous and fertile Egypt, but filled with intrigues and vice. Jacob Abbott’s Cleopatra describes in detail this reign, with a detailed description of Cleopatra’s intrigues, seductions and eventual downfall.

Cleopatra as a young woman already showed the ambition and cunning required for an empress. When her father Ptolemy was reaching the end of his life, he, however, was more compelled to let a son be the emperor than his oldest child, Cleopatra. This dilemma he solved in the way many of his ancestors had done, he married Cleopatra to Ptolemy (his son). The true execution of the rule over Egypt he left to Pothinus (a eunuch), Cleopatra and Ptolemy were only 18 and 10 years of age at the time. In the following years, Cleopatra grew stronger but was exiled by a conspiracy between Ptolemy (her husband) and Pothinus over a struggle for power. She would not be gone for long.

In Syria (a very central country in much of the history of the world) she raised an army in order to fight her way back to rule. A battle never occurred because Ceasar won the civil war that had been raging in the Roman empire and by coincidence ended up in Alexandria. In one of her cunning moves she smuggled herself into Alexandria, Caesar had tried to pursue Pompey there, where she presented her case to Caesar. Caesar was taken back by her charm and daring moves and immediately resolved to get her to consolidate with her brother.

“My honour was not yielded, but conquered merely.” – Cleopatra

The subsequent intrigues are too many to mention in this summary. They constitute Ceasar abandoning his duties as ruler of the Roman empire by staying in Alexandria for a great many years. Cleopatra bears multiple children who are presumed to be from Ceasar, a man who has a wife back in Rome. They together live in the most luxurious ways possible at that time and enjoy each others company. After the assassination of Ceasar, Cleopatra succeeds in seducing the next ruler of the Roman empire, Anthony. Their love leads to more adultery, vice and children. In the end, Antony is defeated by opposing forces in the Roman empire and dies in Alexandria. Not much later Cleopatra is taken prisoner and eventually dies from poison she inflicts on herself.

Cleopatra by Jacob Abbott is a tragic story, for all the power and wealth available to many of the main antagonists, they let their urges and needs to take control instead of reason. Where Ceasar and Anthony were in great positions to rule the Roman empire without much opposition, they both chose to perish in Egypt. If the history of Cleopatra shows anything, it is that even the greatest of man can fall by the touch of a woman. Although Cleopatra is a rather long read, it is worth it if you are interested in the history of Egypt and the fallibility of mankind.

I Love You But

Love can be a though thing sometimes. It can give you the highest highs and the lowest lows. In an age where people assume that love is this big romance, in which limerence (the beginning stage of love) is thought of to last forever I Love You But I’m Not In Low With You (ILYB) is an eye-opener to many. With 25 years of experience in marital counselling, Andrew Marshall has seen it all. In ILYB he offers a theoretical insight into the stages of love, the problems that can arise and exercises you (and your partner) can take to find each other again. This is described in the seven steps to putting the passion back into your relationship.

Step one is very straightforward, and yet also so profound. Marshall explains what the six stages of a relationship are and that they all have their different characteristics. All of them are encompassed by our conception of love, but each in its different way. The second step might surprise many people, it is about arguing. Marshall states that arguing has gotten a bad reputation in the last decades, but that when you apply it correctly, and truly listen to your significant other, conflicts can solve most of your relationship problems. If done correctly, arguments can help see each others perspective and solve underlying conflicts. The other steps are; 3) target, 4) play, 5) take responsibility, 6) giving, and 7) learning.

At the end of every chapter are some exercises you (and your partner) can do. This is an effective way in which Marshall has combined the theoretical part with the practical application of his seven steps. An example is the exercise, self-diagnosis: what else could be lurking behind your ILYB? In this exercise you are presented with 25 questions that target all aspects of your life that may be an underlying problem that is causing you to instigate the ILYB conversation, without this actually being the cause. After the long list of questions are also explanations why each question is asked and what insights it can give, something very useful for people who have enough to cope with and can use some understanding.

Not only does ILYB give you an insight in the steps to mending your relationship, it also provides information on dealing with the actual conversation, a trail-separation, a break-up, and how to live fully again. Marshall in this way covers all topics that you may encounter when dealing with an ILYB situation. For other problems he has also written books which include; The Single Trap (for chronic singles), How Can I Ever Trust You Again? (adultery), Are You Right For Me? (commitment), and Learn To Love Yourself Enough (self-esteem). This clearly shows that Marshall is an expert on the topic of love and has done extensive research into developing the right ways to building a better relationship.

Although the book is an easy (language wise) book to read, with difficult (topic wise) issues being discussed, it is up to the reader to take action. It is up to him or her to confront the other party with the lessons that can be drawn from the book, and to instigate the road to recovery. Love can be both a great joy and a source of great misery, this book shows you that the former is just around the corner. The book receives a 4 out of 6 rating, the reason it has not got a higher rating is because it is hoped that any haste is not needed. It also does not receive a lower rating because although your relationship is not in a crisis, this book allows you to explore the 6 stages of love, and 7 steps to putting back (or getting even more) passion in your love life!