Why New Technology Always Seems Scary

Justin E.H. Smith's 'Against the Algorithm' is described as a work examining how data-driven platforms and hidden algorithms shape expression and human freedom; it was referenced by the author while discussing his changing views during the COVID-19 lockdown. The episode notes the subtitle as 'Human Freedom in a Data-Driven World' and that the project is under contract with Princeton University Press. The host plays a brief clip of Smith stumbling over the full subtitle near the episode's end, reaffirming the book title and theme. The book is discussed in the context of the author's initial tech-critical stance and subsequent re-evaluation of the internet's role during the pandemic. As the transcript presents this as an in-progress/soon-to-be-published work, detailed publication information beyond the subtitle was not provided.

In 'Future Proof', Sam Harris, a divorced and overweight man facing eviction, is given a reprieve by participating in a medical research project. The treatment has an unexpected side effect: it transports him back to his childhood, allowing him to relive and potentially alter his past. The story focuses on Sam's relationship with Luci and explores themes of love, heartache, and redemption across multiple timelines. The book is praised for its emotional depth, humor, and life-affirming ending.

In 'How Innovation Works', Matt Ridley argues that innovation is a collective, collaborative, and gradual process that turns inventions into practical and affordable solutions. He emphasizes that innovation is distinct from invention and requires freedom to exchange, experiment, and fail. Ridley draws on numerous historical examples, from steam engines to search engines, to illustrate how innovation speeds up in some sectors and slows down in others. He also highlights the importance of trial and error, persistence, and the role of many individuals rather than solitary geniuses in the innovation process. The book underscores that innovation is crucial for modern prosperity and warns that it can be easily discouraged by political interference.