Youtube channels
The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens is a podcast that explores the systems science underpinning the human predicament. Conversation topics will span human behavior, monetary/economic systems, energy, ecology, geopolitics and the environment. The goal of the show is to inform more humans about the path ahead and inspire people to play a role in our collective future.
I have watched almost the entire playlist The Great Simplification. I discovered incredible individuals who helped me understand the world, many of whom have become my role models.
Andewism is a YouTube channel that blends practical sustainability, critiques of modern civilization, and visionary alternatives like solar punk and anarchism, all presented with a consistently positive and hopeful tone. It offers insights into permaculture, regenerative living, and self-sufficiency, while questioning industrialization, overconsumption, and societal disconnection. Through personal reflections and actionable advice, the channel inspires systemic change and individual empowerment, encouraging viewers to imagine and create a better, more harmonious future. If you want to learn everything fast, this is the place to start.
The New Enlightenment with Ashley is a YouTube channel about paradigm shifts in economics, governance, and knowledge systems during a historic moment of transition. The creator examines how current systems concentrate power, fueled by technology, institutional mistrust, and geopolitical risks, and explores what a “New Enlightenment” might look like. Drawing parallels to the original Enlightenment, the channel emphasizes the need to rethink foundational concepts like human rights, education, scientific progress, and checks on power in the context of modern challenges like digital technologies and networked systems.
With a background in economics, behavioral science, game theory, and interdisciplinary teaching, the creator delves into economic, game, systems, and evolutionary theories. The channel has two main goals: making complex ideas from significant books accessible to curious audiences and refining the creator’s own thoughts as part of a larger project, including writing a book. It’s both an educational resource and a space for exploring how to navigate and reshape societal systems for the future.
Books
Most IMPORTANT book to read BEFORE reading about world problems or existential risks
The idea that humanity is divided into “us” and “them”, and that some people are irredeemably selfish or “evil”, is often used to justify inaction or even barbarism in the face of global crises. Yet this vision is based on a fundamental error: it denies the interconnectedness and interdependence that define our existence. Human beings, like the ecosystems on which they depend, are not isolated islands. We are parts of a whole, and recognizing this interdependence is essential to building a viable future.
Selfishness and competition have certainly had evolutionary advantages in a context of resource scarcity or immediate survival. But these behaviors, amplified by an economic system that elevates them to virtues, have pushed our societies to the brink of ecological, social and moral collapse. This model based on separation – between individuals, between nations, between humanity and nature – is no longer tenable. Today, it is clear that our collective survival depends on our ability to cooperate and show solidarity.
Altruism, far from being a naive utopia, is deeply rooted in our nature. Traditions such as Jainism, which advocates absolute non-violence, and Buddhism, which values compassion and awareness of interdependence, are living examples. These philosophies show that it is possible to build societies on principles of mutual aid and respect. And history is full of examples of altruism overcoming crises: during natural disasters, wars or social movements for greater justice and equality.
The idea that selfishness is natural and altruism counter-intuitive is based on a mistaken vision. Even from a scientific point of view, our brains are hardwired to feel empathy, and our communities only survive thanks to daily acts of mutual aid. What’s more striking is that, in an interconnected world like ours, selfishness becomes not only morally problematic, but also counterproductive. For example, leaders who seek to divide using an “us versus them” rhetoric ignore the fact that major problems – such as climate change or pandemics – require a collective response.
Ultimately, it is possible to change dominant values. Cultural “memes” – ideas that are transmitted and spread – are not set in stone. If selfishness has long been valued, it’s time to promote memes of altruism, compassion and cooperation. This doesn’t mean ignoring challenges, but recognizing that good can triumph if we create the conditions for it to flourish.
Human resilience and our capacity to adapt are immense. If we can give a chance to a more generous vision of the world – one that rejects the illusion of separation and embraces the reality of interconnectedness – then we can not only survive, but thrive in a more just and sustainable world.
“21 Lessons for the 21st Century” by Yuval Noah Harari explores the most pressing issues humanity faces in the modern era. The book addresses challenges like technological disruption, climate change, inequality, nationalism, and the future of democracy. Harari examines topics such as the power of algorithms, the rise of artificial intelligence, ethical dilemmas, and the shifting nature of truth and identity. The central theme revolves around how humanity can navigate these rapid changes and uncertainties by fostering critical thinking, adaptability, and cooperation in an increasingly interconnected and complex world.
This book has taught me to recognize some of our most pressing problems and how to think critically about them. It has served as a foundation for many of the books and texts on existential and global catastrophic risks that I have read since.
“The Precipice” by Toby Ord examines the existential risks humanity faces and argues that we are at a pivotal moment in our history. Ord highlights threats like nuclear war, climate change, engineered pandemics, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, emphasizing the urgent need to mitigate these risks. He introduces the concept of “longtermism,” advocating for decisions that prioritize the long-term survival and flourishing of humanity. The book combines ethical reasoning, scientific analysis, and practical strategies to inspire collective action to ensure a safe and prosperous future for generations to come.
Toby Ord is a moral philosopher and senior research fellow at the Future of Humanity Institute at the University of Oxford. His work focuses on existential risks and long-term thinking, and he is a co-founder of the effective altruism movement. Ord has contributed significantly to global health and ethics through his academic work and advocacy, making him a leading voice in discussions about humanity’s future.
The Effective Altruism movement is a philosophy and social movement focused on using evidence and reason to identify and address the most pressing global problems effectively. It encourages individuals and organizations to maximize their positive impact by prioritizing actions and causes that offer the greatest potential to improve lives, reduce suffering, or ensure humanity’s long-term survival.
This book has taught me to approach existential risks through the perspective of the Effective Altruism movement.
“MegaThreats: Ten Dangerous Trends That Imperil Our Future, And How to Survive Them” by Nouriel Roubini explores interconnected global risks threatening the world’s stability. Roubini outlines how economic, geopolitical, environmental, and technological challenges are converging to create a perilous future.
The 10 MegaThreats:
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The Mother of All Debt Crises Explores the looming global debt crisis caused by unsustainable borrowing by both governments and private entities.
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Private and Public Failures Discusses how mismanagement in both public and private sectors exacerbates financial instability.
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The Demographic Time Bomb Highlights the economic challenges posed by aging populations and declining birth rates.
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The Easy Money Trap and the Boom-Bust Cycle Analyzes how prolonged easy monetary policies lead to asset bubbles and financial crises.
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The Coming Great Stagflation Warns of a dangerous combination of high inflation and stagnant economic growth reminiscent of the 1970s.
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Currency Meltdowns and Financial Instability Examines the risks of currency crises and their potential to destabilize global economies.
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The End of Globalization? Considers the impact of deglobalization, protectionism, and fragmentation of the global economy.
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The AI Threat Addresses the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence, including mass job displacement and ethical concerns.
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The New Cold War Discusses rising geopolitical tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China, and their global implications.
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An Uninhabitable Planet? Focuses on the catastrophic risks of climate change and environmental degradation.
These threats are interconnected, compounding each other and creating a volatile future.
Nouriel Roubini is a renowned economist and professor emeritus at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He gained international recognition for predicting the 2008 global financial crisis and is widely regarded as an expert in macroeconomics and global finance.
This book has taught me to approach existential threats from an economic perspective.
“Superintelligence” explores the potential risks associated with the development of artificial intelligence (AI) that surpasses human cognitive abilities. Bostrom examines various pathways to superintelligence, including AI evolving through machine learning, brain emulation, or biological enhancements. He outlines the dangers of goal misalignment, where an AI’s objectives may conflict with human values, and power-seeking The book has become a foundational text for policymakers, researchers, and technologists concerned with the ethical and practical challenges of superintelligent AI.
Nick Bostrom is a philosopher and professor at the University of Oxford, where he directs the Future of Humanity Institute (FHI). He is a leading thinker in the fields of existential risks, ethics, and emerging technologies.
The inflationist approach, as outlined in Superintelligence, emphasizes the disproportionate potential impact of superintelligent AI compared to other technological advancements. It argues that even if the probability of developing superintelligence is relatively low, the consequences of failing to control it could be catastrophic or even existential.
Superintelligence provided me an introduction to the inflationist approach, offering a rigorous framework for understanding why long-term AI safety is critical. I have since read many AI safety books, since AI is a particularly dangerous and misunderstood existential risk.
“Atlas of AI” examines the hidden costs and power dynamics behind artificial intelligence. Kate Crawford reveals how AI systems are not autonomous or neutral but are deeply rooted in resource extraction, labor exploitation, and environmental degradation. The book explores the social and political implications of AI, emphasizing how these technologies often exacerbate existing inequalities and serve corporate and state interests.
Crawford critiques the myth of AI as purely a technical achievement, instead showing it as a socio-technical system shaped by human choices and power structures. She advocates for a more critical and ethical approach to AI development and deployment.
Kate Crawford is a leading researcher, author, and academic focusing on the social and environmental impacts of artificial intelligence. She is a senior principal researcher at Microsoft Research, a research professor at USC Annenberg, and has worked extensively on the intersection of AI, ethics, and society.
The deflationist approach, as presented in Atlas of AI, focuses on understanding the immediate, tangible harms of AI systems rather than speculating on distant future scenarios like superintelligence.
This book introduced me to the deflationist approach.
The most IMPORTANT book to read AFTER reading about existential risks or world problems
It would be impossible to do justice to the profound essence of this book or its author with a mere description or summary. All I can express is that it is an exceptionally powerful and deeply meaningful work that everyone should read. It has helped me understand and come to terms with the likelihood that our current version of the world—rooted in extraction, exploitation, and the displacement of violence—can no longer be saved. The time has come to let “modernity/coloniality” die with grace, to accept its lessons with gratitude, and to create space for something new to emerge and take shape.
The list of the inspirations I had would be incomplete if I did not mention the work of Daniel Schmachtenberger. It seems Daniel has faced the same struggles as me, but at a much younger age, and he is far, far more advanced in his thinking, his knowledge, and his wisdom. He was homeschooled by amazing parents, system thinkers, and activists, who allowed his spirit to explore all it needed and did not hide the darkness of the world from him. As a result, he became aware of animal suffering when he was something like 11 and went vegetarian or vegan then. He doesn’t really identify himself as vegan or give himself any label, but he does not eat any meat for sure. He tried to “solve” industrial farming and realized it was not so easy. He then faced poverty and many other complex problems of today. I have pretty much watched all his podcasts. I have broken myself in half to try to volunteer for the Consilience Project, and for a short time, I was able to. I was even, for a brief time, in direct contact with Daniel, but sadly, during a mental health crisis, I damaged that relationship as I have damaged many in my life. I have reached out and apologized since, and the apologies were accepted, but I have pretty much decided to let Daniel concentrate on the difficult problems he is concentrating on and to try to attempt to grow up by myself. I am still working on this.
Am introduction to his work can be found in this excellent PDF slide created by Joshua—thank you, Joshua! It’s amazing that we can now refer to this resource. A longer summary of his ideas can be found in the YouTube series The Third Attractor, linked below. It’s six hours long if you watch both parts. Unfortunately, such complex subjects cannot be fully explained in short amounts of time
Note the description again does NOT do justice to the video, you need to watch it.
In the first part of The Third Attractor, Daniel Schmachtenberger introduces three possible trajectories, or “attractors,” for humanity. The first attractor is self-destruction, where systemic challenges such as ecological collapse, technological misuse, or nuclear war spiral out of control, leading to the breakdown of civilization or even extinction. The second attractor is totalitarian rule, where the immense complexity and instability of modern global systems lead to a centralized, authoritarian regime. This attractor seeks to maintain control and prevent collapse through forceful oversight and strict management of resources and people, but it comes at the cost of freedom, innovation, and long-term adaptability.
The third attractor, which Schmachtenberger advocates, represents a radically different possibility: a society that transcends both collapse and authoritarian control by fundamentally rethinking its systems and values. It emphasizes collaboration, systems thinking, and ethical development to create structures that are regenerative, resilient, and aligned with planetary and human well-being. In this first part, Schmachtenberger lays out the urgent need for this paradigm shift, highlighting how the current global trajectory, driven by short-term thinking and competitive dynamics, is unsustainable. The discussion sets the stage for deeper explorations of how humanity can transition to this third attractor through collective sense-making and intentional civilizational design.
Note the description again does NOT do justice to the video, you need to watch it.
In the second part of The Third Attractor, Daniel Schmachtenberger explores how humanity can transition toward the third attractor, focusing on systemic redesign and cooperative problem-solving. He also delves into the great game of power, examining how it influences global outcomes and the pathways to align it with the creation of a resilient and sustainable future.
These are not my only influences and inspirations. I have read many more books and had the chance to work with many amazing people. I am grateful to all the thinkers and individuals who have affected my life.
