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#669: Kevin Kelly — Excellent Advice for Living

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Apr 26, 2023

Guest

Kevin Kelly

Kevin Kelly, co-chair of The Long Now Foundation and former editor of Wired magazine, shares invaluable insights from his new book, "Excellent Advice for Living." He delves into the power of optimism in achieving success, advocating proactive engagement in shaping the future. The conversation explores the impact of AI on creative fields, the importance of problem-solving through clear communication, and the transformative joy of creation. Listeners will also gain practical advice on nurturing personal growth and enhancing their well-being.

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ANECDOTE

Time Machine Experience

Kevin Kelly describes a trip to Northern Afghanistan in 1975 as a "time machine" experience.
The lack of technology limited choices and opportunities for people there.

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ADVICE

Using AI Tools

Use AI tools like Midjourney and chatbots to generate creative content and overcome creative blocks.
View them as "universal personal interns" whose work needs refinement and direction.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Book's Genesis

Kevin Kelly's "Excellent Advice for Living" started as personal notes and advice for his children.
It evolved into a book of practical, actionable, and often unconventional wisdom.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Inspiring Innovations with a Tech Visionary

03:52 • 4min

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The Future of Population: Long Bets and Projections

08:21 • 7min

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Exploring Complexity and Creativity

15:00 • 24min

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The Power of Optimism in Creating Success

38:40 • 4min

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Active Optimism and Societal Progress

42:51 • 13min

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AI and the Evolution of Creative Employment

55:27 • 22min

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Transforming Ideas into Action

01:17:44 • 26min

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Practical Problem-Solving Through Communication

01:43:41 • 1min

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The Joy of Creation and the Power of Sabbaticals

01:45:11 • 16min

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Exploring Timeless Wisdom and Weekly Discoveries

02:01:31 • 2min

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Innovative Solutions for Better Sleep and Health

02:03:34 • 4min

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#1223

• Mentioned in 32 episodes

The Inevitable

Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future

Kevin Kelly

In 'The Inevitable,' Kevin Kelly outlines twelve technological forces that will significantly impact how we work, learn, and communicate over the next thirty years. These forces include becoming, cognifying, flowing, screening, accessing, sharing, filtering, remixing, interacting, tracking, questioning, and beginning. Kelly argues that understanding and embracing these forces will help individuals and businesses navigate the coming changes effectively. The book is praised for its optimistic and insightful view of the future, although some critics note that it lacks a detailed discussion of the potential downsides of these technological advancements.

#1012

• Mentioned in 37 episodes

Excellent Advice for Living

Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier

Kevin Kelly

Excellent Advice for Living is a compilation of Kevin Kelly's life wisdom, initially written for his young adult children on his 68th birthday. The book features 450 aphorisms that cover a wide range of topics, from setting ambitious goals and optimizing generosity to cultivating compassion and practical advice on career, relationships, parenting, and finances. Kelly's advice is designed to be accessible and applicable to all ages, emphasizing the importance of kindness, decency, and generosity of spirit. The book is praised for its straightforward and memorable guidance, making it an ideal companion for anyone seeking to navigate life with grace and creativity.

#1938

• Mentioned in 22 episodes

Anne of Green Gables

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Published in 1908, the novel tells the story of Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan girl who is sent by mistake to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, who had intended to adopt a boy to help them on their farm in Avonlea. Despite initial reservations, Anne's vivid imagination, talkativeness, and joyful spirit transform the lives of the Cuthberts and the community. The novel follows Anne's adventures in school, her friendships, and her rivalry with Gilbert Blythe, as well as her growth and adaptation to her new home. Montgomery infused the work with her own girlhood experiences and the rural life and traditions of Prince Edward Island.

#3235

• Mentioned in 14 episodes

Out of Control

Charlotte Lamb

Kevin Kelly's "Out of Control" explores the emerging field of artificial life and its implications for the future. Published in 1994, the book delves into complex systems, artificial intelligence, and the interconnectedness of life. Kelly uses the metaphor of the Library of Babel to illustrate the vastness and complexity of information systems. The book's central theme is the unpredictable nature of complex systems and the potential for emergent behavior. "Out of Control" is a seminal work in the field of technology and its impact on society, offering a blend of scientific insight and philosophical reflection.

#1758

• Mentioned in 24 episodes

Consilience

The Unity of Knowledge

Edward O. Wilson

In 'Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge', E.O. Wilson advocates for the integration of knowledge from different fields to create a unified theory of understanding. He draws on the concept of consilience, introduced by William Whewell, which means the 'jumping together' of knowledge by linking facts and theories across disciplines. Wilson explores the chemistry of the mind, the genetic bases of culture, and the biological principles underlying works of art. He argues that a unified approach can lead to a deeper understanding of the human condition and the natural world, and he critiques the fragmentation of knowledge into separate disciplines. The book is a call for a new Enlightenment, emphasizing the importance of science and reason in understanding all aspects of human existence.

#1576

• Mentioned in 27 episodes

What technology wants

Kevin Kelly

In this book, Kevin Kelly presents a sweeping vision of technology as a living force that is an extension of biological evolution. He introduces the concept of the 'technium,' a global, massively interconnected system of technology that evolves based on its own inherent desires and instincts. Kelly argues that technology is not just a tool but a self-evolving entity that gives our lives greater meaning. He outlines a dozen trajectories for technology in the coming decades and emphasizes the importance of aligning ourselves with technology's agenda to capture its colossal potential. The book is both visionary and optimistic, exploring how technology can expand our individual potential and drive progress in society.

#230

• Mentioned in 102 episodes

The Population Bomb

Anne H. Ehrlich

Paul Ehrlich

Published in 1968, 'The Population Bomb' by Paul and Anne Ehrlich predicts catastrophic consequences, including mass starvation and environmental ruin, due to unchecked population growth. The book argues that immediate action is necessary to control population growth to prevent these dire outcomes. Although many of the Ehrlichs' predictions did not come to pass, the book significantly raised awareness about population and environmental issues and influenced public policy in the 1960s and 1970s. The authors emphasize the need for conscious regulation of human numbers and highlight the strain that growing populations place on the natural world.

#4801

• Mentioned in 10 episodes

Vanishing Asia

A Masterclass on the Past, Present, and Future of Asia

Kevin Kelly

Vanishing Asia is a comprehensive and visually stunning 3-volume set of oversized books that document the rapidly disappearing traditions, costumes, architecture, festivals, and lifestyles of Asia. Over 49 years, Kevin Kelly traveled to the most remote places in 35 Asian countries, capturing 9,000 images on 1,000 uniquely designed pages. The set covers West, Central, and East Asia, showcasing the diverse cultures from Turkey to Japan and from Siberia to Indonesia. This work is an ambitious passion project that highlights the beauty and complexity of Asian cultures as they face the challenges of modernization.

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Kevin Kelly (@kevin2kelly) helped launch and edit Wired magazine. He has written for The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, among many other publications.

He is the author of the new book Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier. Other books by Kevin Kelly include Out of Control, the 1994 classic book on decentralized emergent systems; The Silver Cord, a graphic novel about robots and angels; What Technology Wants, a robust theory of technology; Vanishing Asia, his 50-year project to photograph the disappearing cultures of Asia, and The Inevitable: Understanding the 12 Technological Forces That Will Shape Our Future, a New York Times bestseller.

Kevin is currently co-chair of The Long Now Foundation, which is building a clock in a mountain that will tick for 10,000 years. He also has a daily blog; a weekly podcast about cool tools; and a weekly newsletter, Recomendo, a free, one-page list of six very brief recommendations of cool stuff. He is also a Senior Maverick at Wired. He lives in Pacifica, California.

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[05:51] Is Kevin Kelly the most interesting man in the world?

[08:37] Kevin’s long bet against the human population.

[15:00] Out Of Control.

[19:34] Why did it take 11 years to complete The Silver Cord?

[24:28] 1,000 True Fans.

[29:48] Kevin’s failed campaign to discover all the species of life on Earth.

[31:31] Stewart Brand.

[36:20] Ressurecting extinct species.

[39:38] Why Kevin believes optimists shape the future.

[42:48] Active optimism vs. passive optimism.

[46:39] What constitutes progress?

[48:18] Is regression inevitable if we don’t embrace “degrowth?”