Things read - Week 11

Daniel Kaheman's assisted suicide

If I say that DK changed my life, it wouldn't be an overstatement. His book, "Thinking Fast and Slow," changed the way I think and even more made me aware of my own limits. He passed away last year around the same time, and it was disheartening. However, recently a bunch of stories surfaced where it was discovered that he chose to end his life in Switzerland. One theory goes that he believed in the importance of psychological significance of happy endings: we don't remember an experience as pleasurable or painful based on how long it felt good or bad; but rather based on the peak and ending intensity of those emotions. Anyway, here's a good story by the Wall Street Journal on his final decision. Link

Secret to healthy gut

Gut health affects your mood, as well as your overall health. To maintain a healthy gut, it's important to eat a variety of different types of fiber in your diet. Non-vegetarians should pay particular attention to their gut health, as meat can introduce bad bacteria into the system, which can linger for longer periods. Link

$19 for a single strawberry

I had a little idea about the Japanese obsession with fruits. But strawberry farming takes it to the next level: In Japan, there is a concept of "first of season" where the first farmer to market gets special attention. Although, the strawberry season starts in Spring (April-May), the race to be the first in the market has moved the season to winter and they have become a Christmas time specialty. Link

Timely reminder to hate the algorithm

A concise article on how to stop doomscrolling: not a definitive guide, but rather a collection of thoughts on the subject. Embracing the idea of doing nothing can lead to a sense of salvation.

Perhaps you never truly wake at all. Maybe you merely rise, check, scroll, perform, and disappear.

Hard hitting. Link