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Renee DiResta

Recommended Books

Renée DiResta is the Research Manager at the Stanford Internet Observatory. She investigates the spread of malign narratives across social networks, and assists policymakers in understanding and responding to the problem.
8 books on the list
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Pride and Prejudice book cover
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen - 2000-10-10 (first published in 1813)
Goodreads Rating
This beloved classic novel follows the dynamic protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, as she learns the impact of hasty judgments and the importance of genuine goodness. Set in Regency-era Great Britain, the story satirizes societal expectations and the pressure to marry for financial gain. With witty humor and memorable characters, Pride and Prejudice has become one of the most popular and widely adapted novels in English literature.
Renee DiResta
2023-02-04T17:43:27.000Z
@tar_xvzf Who isn’t?! Great book.      source
Collective Illusions book cover
Collective Illusions
Conformity, Complicity, and the Science of Why We Make Bad Decisions
Todd Rose - 2022-02-01
Goodreads Rating
This national bestseller by former Harvard professor Todd Rose dives into the illusions and false assumptions that drive our society's bad decisions, leading to mistrust and unhappiness. Drawing on cutting-edge research, Rose explains how we act against our own best interests due to our brains' misunderstanding of what we think others believe. These illusions, driven by conformity bias, distort how we see the world, leading us to copy others, lie about what we believe, and cling to tribes. Yet, Rose offers a hopeful explanation for how we can bridge the inference gap, make decisions with newfound clarity, and achieve fulfillment, ultimately transforming society.
Renee DiResta
2023-01-27T03:30:24.000Z
@SteveStuWill There's a book by Todd Rose called Collective Illusions on this phenomenon that's very interesting. I think about it a lot in the context of the batshit bait that goes viral on this site in particular.      source
The Master and Margarita book cover
The Master and Margarita
Mikhail Bulgakov - 1996-03-01 (first published in 1967)
Goodreads Rating
A masterpiece that defies comparison, The Master and Margarita is a crowning achievement that skillfully weaves together magical and realistic elements, ethical concerns, and grotesque situations. Set during Stalin's reign, this devastating satire of Soviet life is divided into two distinct parts, each filled with fascinating characters and historical, imaginary, frightful, and wonderful events. This complete and unabridged translation is a must-read for anyone seeking artistic and spiritual freedom.
Renee DiResta
2022-09-06T22:47:59.000Z
@AlanLevinovitz this is my favorite fiction book. it's incredible writing. the opening is excellent. i also really like Faust.      source
Amusing Ourselves to Death book cover
Amusing Ourselves to Death
Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business
Neil Postman - 2005-12-27 (first published in 1985)
Goodreads Rating
This thought-provoking book explores the role of television in shaping our society and its impact on critical thinking and public discourse. The author highlights how our obsession with visually stimulating content is hampering our ability to engage in meaningful conversations about important issues. With compelling insights and solutions, the book urges readers to take control of their media consumption and strive towards a more reasoned and informed society.
Renee DiResta
2022-08-08T16:57:01.000Z
The Neil Postman book that @ezraklein references in here - “Amusing Ourselves to Death” - is worth a read. As I’ve been working on my 📕 I’ve been curious ab solutions broached in other media environments. One of P’s main suggestions is that we watch less TV. Agency/adaptation.      source
Extraordinary Popular Delusions book cover
Extraordinary Popular Delusions
Selections from Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds
Charles MacKay - 2003-09-01 (first published in 1841)
Goodreads Rating
Explore historic financial manias in this riveting and absorbing book about market psychology. Charles Mackay's account of John Law's Mississipi Scheme, the South Sea Bubble, and Tulipomania highlight the driving forces of financial markets: fear and greed. With hindsight, Mackay's masterful chronicling of these social and financial histories proves to be an absorbing thriller and an excellent historical document. A century and a half later, it remains as vibrant and relevant as ever, serving as a cautionary tale for modern-day investors.
Renee DiResta
2021-01-31T03:46:37.000Z
@mims There’s a really great book called “Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds” from the late 1800s that goes into a bunch of case studies. Tulip mania but also witch hunts. Human psychology remains the same, the speed and scale have changed.      source
The $12 Million Stuffed Shark book cover
The $12 Million Stuffed Shark
The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art
Don Thompson - 2008-09-16
Goodreads Rating
This intriguing and entertaining book explores why certain works of contemporary art sell for millions of dollars at auction, while others are ignored. Through interviews with insiders in the art world, author Don Thompson delves into the economics and marketing strategies that drive the art market. Discover the secrets behind record-breaking auction prices and gain insight into the strange and fascinating world of modern art.
Renee DiResta
2021-01-17T19:16:04.000Z
@SeanNStJohn @ratemyskyperoom Yeah. THE book to read on contemporary art market “eccentricity” (scams) is this one 😉      source
The Coddling of the American Mind book cover
The Coddling of the American Mind
How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure
Greg Lukianoff - 2018-09-04
Goodreads Rating
This nonfiction book delves into the rising rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide on college campuses and nationally, and explores the origins of the problem. Through investigating three terrible ideas that have become commonplace in American childhood and education, the authors outline how this culture of safetyism interferes with young people's development. The book is perfect for anyone who is confused by the changes taking place on college campuses, has children, or is concerned about Americans' growing inability to live, work, and cooperate across party lines.
Renee DiResta
2020-02-24T05:41:46.000Z
@MichaelSmithLL @antoniogm That book is great      source
Propaganda book cover
Propaganda
The Formation of Men's Attitudes
Jacques Ellul - 1973-01-12 (first published in 1962)
Goodreads Rating
This thought-provoking work explores the destructive impact of propaganda on democracy and humanity in the modern world. Using the logical approach that is characteristic of French thought, the author delves into the thesis that propaganda- whether its aims are good or bad- is perhaps the gravest threat to human society. The book presents a catalog of horrors that reveals how propaganda seizes and influences individuals, making them willing dupes in democracies, especially when they are educated for their role as such.
Renee DiResta
2019-11-26T11:40:30.000Z
@farkasjohan This is such an excellent book. :)      source