BOOKS THREAD

That is what makes scam/bubbles so fascinating, the gullibility of supposed smart informed people. There are ten of thousands of examples in the investment industry alone. What most people don’t know or understand is that the stock market and the ancillary industries that rely and benefit from it are just part of the biggest poker game in the world. Years ago the game was to out think the other guy. Now it’s all about bots and shorting on downticks and throwing so much money at a particular position that you can’t help but win. Too bad how things have changed as at one point the average investor actually had a chance but using hi intuition and smarts. Now that doesn’t matter.
Supposed smart people don’t necessarily mean they are money wise.

 

As I remember, this took place around when venture capitalists were looking for the next big thing. Unlike tech startups that only established marketplaces (Mr. Buyer, meet Ms. Seller, and thanks for my cut for setting up the handshake), Theranos looked more substantial: it had an actual product that would fill the need of a potentially explosive market.

As you mentioned, Theranos systematically lied about results. I suspect many investors merely went through the due diligence motions, since the company and Holmes were much hyped and became the new Wall Street darling.

Frankly I'm more interested in the herd mentality angle. I know it's an old -- and depressing -- storyline, but it happens spectacularly at least once a decade.

 

Literally changed my life. Something he said struck such a spark with me that it made me rethink a number of things. Plus I'm down 28 pounds since I read it.

 

Finished the new Stephen King book, "The Institute". Not a critic, can't pull it apart to explain why but I loved it. Classic King.

 

I read it's his best work yet. Can you confirm? I liked The Stand.

 

I'm curious what he said/wrote, in particular, that was life-changing for you, if you're willing to say or discuss it?

Great work with the weight loss. I've been trying to lose a few pounds again lately. Dropped 10 pounds pretty easily, but I haven't been as active or focused on gym work as I have been in the past, and I've struggled at an apparent plateau the past three weeks or so.

 

I don't think I'd go that far - I'd put "The Shining" and "The Stand" at the top of my list but it certainly feels like 'classic King'.

 

He talked about the fear of being an adult which struck a huge chord with me. I've learned a lot about myself over my time in a 12-step fellowship but this really zeroed in on the fear I live with. Now when making decisions I often ask myself "What would a grown up do?".

As to the weight loss, I've lost large amounts of weight (up to 90 lbs) several times but it always creeps back. His book has refocused me on trying to change the way I live rather than dropping pounds. I invested in a gym membership and some time with a personal trainer to get started. I am trying to make losing weight a byproduct of trying to get healthy rather than a goal in itself. We'll see ...

 

Currently reading "One Ring Circus: Dispatches From the World of Boxing" thanks to someone on here mentioning it in another thread. Really enjoying it and am glad for the tip.

 

Good luck, @HC. I'm not sure what clicks when it comes to losing it and keeping it off, but something will. It's hard to say why when it happens. Maybe priorities and perspective shifts just enough. I always feel vaguely guilty when I can't hand someone the silver bullet they need.

In book news... I tried. I really tried to read "David Copperfield." Nope. Nopenopenopenope. It's going out with the next UBS junket. Am rereading Michael Palin's travel books. "Pole to Pole" is particularly good. He's complained about being seen as "the nice Python," but the voice that comes across can't be anything else.

 

Just finished the new Malcolm Gladwell "Talking to Strangers" and loved it.