Bye AP: Books, Video and Tools for College and Beyond

Thanks for a great year. Before you head out to the world, you might take this summer to pause and reflect on it. Here are a few important and enjoyable books that can help you do just that, but first a reflection on the novel:

Five of our greatest novelists on what it takes to write something true

Just why are you so WEIRD? Joseph Henrich can tell you.
2034 by Elliot Ackerman and Adm. James Stavridis (Read this book for a preview of the next world war...Wait, aren't we in one?). They have a lot to say about America, too.
James by Percival Everett. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, this is a reimagined version of the Adventure of Huckleberry Finn. Read them together for a truly great American experience. 
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Want to know what the most powerful person in the world is thinking and how he approaches life? Well, now you can.
The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness by Epictetus...Now you can learn directly from the enslaved person who went on to teach Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
How to Know a Person by David Brooks (The art of seeing others deeply and enriching your own life through connection and community)
The Algebra of Wealth by Scott Galloway (Feeling like the previous generation left you with high debt and disastrous climate? You are not crazy. This book just might give you a way forward)
Who is Government and The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis (Read this book to find out all the great things your government does and never talks about...also, learn about its biggest challenges)
If you are looking for a hero, read Patriot by Alexei Navalny
The Post-American World and Age of Revolutions by Fareed Zakaria (his assessment of the US in the near future where it doesn't lead and about the history behind our current moment and why we are living in this present moment of upheaval...and how to navigate it.)
Ill Fares the Land by Tony Judt (an assessment of the dangers facing the U.S. and the E.U. and reasons why young people need to become engaged citizens concerned about politics for the greater good. This is what has been missing from your intellectual diet.) See also the documentary Inequality for All based on Aftershock: The Next Economy and America's Future by Robert Reich.
Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil (This is how algorithms and data can harm society through bias that creates digital systemic inequality. This book builds ethical and critical awareness.)
From Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough & Michael Braungart (if you want to read what a real "green" revolution would look like, read this. Your country needs to make things and in order to do that we need to "remake" things. "WASTE = FOOD")
Making Globalization Work by Joseph Stiglitz (what is wrong with the globalization and prescriptions to a more just and equitable world)
The World is Flat and Thank You for Being Late by Thomas Friedman (get a sense of the other job applicants you might not see in the waiting room)...Also check out Cyber War by Richard Clarke (it covers the unintended security risks created by globalization and computers; yes, it affects you on an individual level as well as a global one: viruses, scammers, WMD, and AI are all here)
Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes (Hitler returns and he's amusing...and dangerous) and it is a serious satire that has also been made into a movie now on Netflix (sorry about the subtitles)
The Devil We Know: Dealing with the New Iranian Super Power by Bob Baer. Get to know the Iran of today; too often your government is fighting a war of the past. Iran is a state, an empire, and strategic. Get to know what they want and how they operate from a CIA agent who spent a good part of his career there...also check out the film his work inspired: Syriana. (Note: look for new books as the U.S.-Iran war develops.)
Mindset by Carol Dweck (a favorite of your superintendent that just might help you in college when the going gets tough)
The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt (Interested in how the world became modern? Perhaps it all has to do with one manuscript plucked from a thousand years of neglect by Poggio Bracciolini...read the book to learn about the poem that changed the course of human thought and made possible the world as we know it)

From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life by Jacques Barzun (After you know how we became modern, read about the last 500 years of Western Cultural Life and figure out where you fit)
A Whole New Mind by Dan Pink (lead a richer and fuller life and learn how to offer more in the business of life as well as in business)...Also check out his book on: Drive (It will give you some insight as to how to be self-directed, autonomous in work, and maybe a bit happier in life; if you like his books, check out his YT channel where he addresses improving work, life, and happiness in general.)
Why Him? Why Her? by Helen Fisher (wondering why some relationships last and other just never seem to get started? Why opposites attract as well as those who are birds of a feather? What did the Shakespeare and the ancients know that we are only now rediscovering through brain research? Find out and learn a bit about how you might make your own perfect match)
Lean in: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg (for any woman who wants to lead and any man interested in knowing what is going on on the other side of the desk or the partnership)
The Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe (This is the book that started all the generation talk.)
Good to Great by Jim Collins (why some people and companies are great and stay that way for a lifetime)
Amusing Ourselves to Death and Technopoly by Neil Postman (a prophetic book about where all this technology is leading and how you might protect yourself from it)
The Conscience of a Liberal by Paul Krugman (indispensable economic history of the U.S. Why you live where you live, work where you work, and why your neighbor is your neighbor)

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (from the internationally renowned Japanese writer...if you believe in soul mates, this is for you)...Also check out The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and Kafka on the Shore by Murakami
Moth Smoke, Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
Options by Dan Lyons (a LOL novel for anyone who loves Apple products, Steve Jobs, or satire)
Clockers, Lush Life, The Whites by Richard Price (the master)
Falling Man by Don DeLillo (a penetrating look at 9/11) (see also White Noise, Zero K and Underworld)
The Good Life by Jay McInerney (Vanity Fair calls him our modern-day Fitzgerald, this is his novel in aftermath of 9/11, a love story with a perceptive, if unsettling, conclusion...that largely came true. This guy also penned the famous novel that captured the 80's zeitgeist: Bright Lights, Big City. The Good Life belongs to a tetrology that begins with Brightness Falls, The Good Life, Bright Precious Days, and See You on the Other Side.)
Hygiene and the Assassin (the strangest interview you will ever read), The Character of Rain (coming of age...Nothomb style), Life Form (Nothomb's epistolary novel on Iraq) and Tokyo Fiancee (connects to Fear & Trembling) and you can always return to Fear and Trembling (first jobs) by Amelie Nothomb.
Also, here are some places to feed your head and meet the thought leaders in our world today: TED Talks, The World Economic Forum, Talks at Google (Podcast version),

AI Talks:
Dr. Geoffrey Hinton on AI (Exited Google to Speak Out)
Ilya Sutskever: The key mind behind OpenAI
60 Minutes at Google on the AI Revolution
The Inside Story of ChatGPT’s Astonishing Potential | Greg Brockman
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and the $2 trillion company powering today's AI | 60 Minutes - YouTubeMusic leads the way in the digital space: Here are some predictions from Rick Beato (this is a good one)

Learn how to manage your knowledge: 
Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick (Working with AI to extend your own intelligence)
Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte (Figure this out before you go to college)
How to Take Smart Notes (review of Sonke Ahrens)
Knowledge Management Software: Evernote, OneNote, Notion, Obsidian, Roam, and new ones are coming out all the time: Google NotebookLM will be particularly useful for you in college. 
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The First 20 Hours of Learning Something New (this is way more useful than 10,000 hours)

The Long Journey From the Strait of Hormuz to the Gas Tank

 The Long Journey From the Strait of Hormuz to the Gas Tank - The New York Times

This is a great graphical story. 

After Setbacks, Ford Says Its Affordable Electric Truck Is on Track

 After Setbacks, Ford Says Its Affordable Electric Truck Is on Track (Thanks to Haadi for this one)

Ford Motor has written off $20 billion in electric vehicle investments but says it is forging ahead with an electric pickup that will sell for $30,000 next year.

Ted Turner, CNN founder who pioneered cable TV news, dies at 87

Ted Turner, CNN founder who pioneered cable TV news, dies at 87 | CNN (Thanks to Cole for this one)

Ted Turner, Creator of CNN and the 24-Hour News Cycle, Dies at 87 - The New York Times

As one of the most important figures in media history, he oversaw a vast cable empire of news, sports and entertainment channels.

Shooting at Oklahoma lakeside party sends at least 18 to hospitals

 Shooting at Oklahoma lakeside party sends at least 18 to hospitals | AP News (Thanks to Sam for this one)

A weekend shooting at a lakeside park in Oklahoma that left nearly two dozen people injured erupted when a group began arguing at an unsanctioned party packed with young adults, a witness said Monday.

Authorities were continuing to search for suspects Monday in the shooting that critically injured at least three of those hurt. No arrests have been made.

The A.I. Industry Is Booming. When Will It Actually Make Money? White House considers vetting AI Models as Pentagon inks multiple AI deals

 The A.I. Industry Is Booming. When Will It Actually Make Money?
As Elon Musk sues his former OpenAI partners, A.I. companies are expanding rapidly, but profits are still scarce.

OpenAI president, Greg Brockman, discloses his stake in the company is worth $30B

White House Considers Vetting A.I. Models Before They Are Released
The Trump administration, which took a noninterventionist approach to artificial intelligence, is now discussing imposing oversight on A.I. models before they are made publicly available. 

Pentagon Makes Deals With A.I. Companies to Expand Classified Work
The agreements with the technology companies come amid the Defense Department’s dispute with Anthropic. 

The Pentagon had previously confirmed deals with Elon Musk’s xAI, OpenAI and Google. In addition, the Pentagon said it had reached deals with Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Nvidia and Reflection AI, a start-up. 

 

 

Secret Service Shoots and Wounds Armed Man Near Washington Monument

 Secret Service Shoots and Wounds Armed Man Near Washington Monument
A 15-year-old boy was also hit. The motorcade of Vice President JD Vance had passed through the area shortly before the shooting.

 

U.S. sinks 7 small Iranian boats as Iran launches attacks on UAE and ships in Strait of Hormuz; US & Iran appear stuck

 Live Updates: U.S. sinks 7 small Iranian boats as Iran launches attacks on UAE and ships in Strait of Hormuz (Thanks to Graydon for keeping up!)

Trump Faces the Complicated Reality of a Costly, Unpopular War in Iran
President Trump’s predictions of a relatively short-term conflict with minimal economic consequences appear to be crumbling. 

The Growing Rift Between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Explained - The New York Times

Officials say competition between the countries is healthy. But tensions are mounting over energy quotas, regional conflicts and their different visions for the Middle East.

Trump Tries to Downplay Economic Effects of the Iran War - The New York Times

At a White House event for Small Business Week, he described the economy as “roaring” and predicted that gas prices would go down soon.

As Oil Prices Stay High, China Doubles Down on Wind Power - The New York Times

An industrial policy of subsidies and import restrictions laid the foundations for China to become almost as dominant in wind turbines as in solar panels.

The Met Gala’s Embrace of Jeff Bezos Causes a Backlash + images from the red carpet

 The Met Gala’s Embrace of Jeff Bezos Causes a Backlash - The New York Times

Protesters have found a perfect foil in Amazon’s founder, the gala’s lead sponsor this year.

Met Gala Red Carpet Looks 

Someone Has to Be Happy. Why Not Lauren Sánchez Bezos? - The New York Times

Opinion | How Lauren Sánchez Bezos Inspired ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ - The New York Times

These Countries Embrace E.V.s to Avoid Oil Price Shocks

 These Countries Embrace E.V.s to Avoid Oil Price Shocks - The New York Times

People in Costa Rica and other Latin American, Asian and African countries are increasingly buying electric vehicles to avoid spiking fuel prices.

Costa Ricans buy more electric vehicles per person than almost any other country in the Western Hemisphere, a fact that would not surprise anyone stopping recently at the Croc Skywalk, a tourist attraction above a slow-moving river where people can gawk at sunbathing crocodiles.

Numerous electric vehicles, most of them made by Chinese companies like Geely and BYD, were parked outside a gift shop and restaurant near the skywalk, about an hour and a half south of San José, the capital.

Kattia Cambronero, a lawmaker in the Legislative Assembly, says electric cars can provide energy security to Costa Rica.

Pickleball community mourns fellow players killed in Texas plane crash

 Pickleball community mourns fellow players killed in Texas plane crash | AP News (Thanks to Sonia for this one)

MV Hondius cruise ship at center of suspected deadly hantavirus outbreak refused permission to dock

 MV Hondius cruise ship at center of suspected deadly hantavirus outbreak refused permission to dock (Thanks to Bernadette for this one)

The luxury MV Hondius cruise ship at the center of a deadly suspected hantavirus outbreak has been refused permission to dock in the West African island nation of Cape Verde, officials said Monday.

Roughly 150 people are currently trapped on the Dutch cruise liner off the African coast after three passengers died and others became seriously sick with symptoms.

The ship, which was on a weekslong polar cruise from Argentina to Antarctica, had requested help from local health authorities on Sunday following the latest death.

Golden Tempo takes the Kentucky Derby as Cherie DeVaux becomes the 1st woman to train its winner

Golden Tempo takes the Kentucky Derby as Cherie DeVaux becomes the 1st woman to train its winner : NPR

Iran's leader vows to protect nuclear and missile capabilities

 Iran's leader vows to protect nuclear and missile capabilities | AP News (Thanks to Graydon for this one)

Scientists discover new type of proton after 20-year search

 Scientists discover new type of proton after 20-year search (Thanks to Joe for this one)

Six wounded after stabbing attack at high school in Washington state

 Six wounded after stabbing attack at high school in Washington state | Washington state | The Guardian (Thanks to Sara for this one)

D4vd is arrested on suspicion of killing teen

 D4vd is arrested on suspicion of killing teen | AP News (Thanks to Louden for this one)

Why Countries Are Stocking Up on Gold

 Why Countries Are Stocking Up on Gold - The New York Times

As risk has escalated, central banks have bought more gold to stash in reserve. A widening Middle East war could add to the urgency.

Where in the World Is All That Gold Stored? - The New York Times

As central banks buy more gold, where to put all that heavy metal is an increasingly important question. Reserves must be secure and ready to trade in a crisis.

Why So Many People Already Own Shares of Elon Musk’s SpaceX

 Why So Many People Already Own Shares of Elon Musk’s SpaceX - The New York Times

Even before the rocket company holds a major initial public offering, many people own stock in it through so-called special purpose vehicles.

Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite company is about to hold what could be the largest initial public offering ever, allowing anyone to own its stock after 24 years as a private firm. So why does it seem that so many people already do?

The answer lies in the opaque market for private company shares, driven largely by what are known as special purpose vehicles, or S.P.V.s. These legal entities, which are designed to hold assets like equities, have become a popular way to invest in private company stock as groups of investors can pool money for a single investment.

Can LIV Golf work without the Saudi billions? Sports investors predict a ‘free fall’

 Can LIV Golf work without the Saudi billions? Sports investors predict a ‘free fall’ - The Athletic

A Midterm Clash of A.I. Giants Escalates as a Tech Billionaire Jumps In

 A Midterm Clash of A.I. Giants Escalates as a Tech Billionaire Jumps In

Chris Larsen, who hails from California, plans to spend $3.5 million to help Alex Bores, a New York congressional candidate at the center of a proxy war over A.I. regulation.

A.I. Helps Online Ad Businesses Boom - The New York Times

Google and Meta are enjoying a digital ad boom, as artificial intelligence automates marketing and drives record sales.

Something Liberals and Conservatives Agree On: Hatred of Data Centers - The New York Times

Americans have soured on the projects, polls show, and the sentiment is profoundly bipartisan. How that will change our politics?

Elon Musk’s A.I. Claims of Danger Face Limits in OpenAI Trial - The New York Times

One of Elon Musk’s abiding fears is that A.I. could one day threaten humans. But the jurors deciding his suit against OpenAI probably won’t hear about it.

In Pennsylvania, musicians with Amish and Mennonite backgrounds find a voice

 In Pennsylvania, musicians with Amish and Mennonite backgrounds find a voice | AP News (Thanks to Louden for this one)

Trump: Blockade Stalemate, Weapons Production, and Who Has The Cards?

 Trump’s Plans to Boost Weapons Production Might Not Deliver for Years - The New York Times

While the defense industry has announced plans to make more munitions, much of that expanded production will not quickly kick in.

Opinion | Trump Is the One Without the Cards at the Poker Table - The New York Times

This is an explainer of asymmetric warfare in the modern age and how superpowers like the U.S., Russia, and China are actually at a disadvantage in many cases. 

Obamacare Enrollment Drops Sharply as Costs Rise

 Obamacare Enrollment Drops Sharply as Costs Rise - The New York Times

Americans can’t afford the higher health insurance premiums that resulted from Congress’s refusal to extend federal tax credits.

Initial sign-ups had already fallen by about 1.2 million people. But insurance companies, state officials and industry analysts are reporting that many more have lost Obamacare coverage now that people are facing long-term higher costs. Many insurers and analysts are estimating overall declines of about 20 percent, dropping to around 19 million from the 24 million who were covered under the A.C.A. last year.

Tornado devastates Mineral Wells, Texas, on sixth straight day of severe storms

 Tornado devastates Mineral Wells, Texas, on sixth straight day of severe storms | CNN (Thanks to Finn for this one)

Hegseth and Democrats Spar Over Iran in His First Testimony Since War Began

Hegseth and Democrats Spar Over Iran in His First Testimony Since War Began - The New York Times (Thanks to Matte for this one)

‘A false narrative around a paedophile’: Michael Jackson biopic criticised by Leaving Neverland director

 ‘A false narrative around a paedophile’: Michael Jackson biopic criticised by Leaving Neverland director | Movies | The Guardian (Thanks to Sara for this one)

Dan Reed says the film recasts abuse allegations as lies and sidesteps Jackson’s relationships with children

Video Middle School Students stop school bus and save the driver after she has medical emergency

 Video Middle School Students stop school bus and save the driver after she has medical emergency

Middle school students heroically stop school bus after driver passes out | Fox News Video

US passports to get first redesign in 5 years, will feature Trump's face

 US passports to get first redesign in 5 years, will feature Trump's face: What to know

King Charles Carries Message of Conciliation Through to State Dinner

 Live Updates: King Charles Carries Message of Conciliation Through to State Dinner - The New York Times

The British monarch expanded on the theme that he expressed in an afternoon address to Congress, aiming to repair strained U.S.-British ties.

Beneath King Charles’s jokes and decorum lay a subtle rebuttal to Trump in well-received address to Congress.

This time, the king’s speech was full of jokes.

Read the complete transcript of King Charles III's speech to Congress

Leaked Code for Anthropic’s Claude Code Tests Copyright Challenges in A.I. Era

 Leaked Code for Anthropic’s Claude Code Tests Copyright Challenges in A.I. Era - The New York Times

Artificial intelligence tools are making it faster than ever to reproduce creative work. Does copyright even matter anymore?

Sigrid Jin, a student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, used A.I. agents to rewrite leaked Anthropic code. Photo by Grant Harder/NYT.

Sam Altman’s Next High-Wire Act: Getting OpenAI to Make More Money (even as the company misses its own internal targets)

 Sam Altman’s Next High-Wire Act: Getting OpenAI to Make More Money - The New York Times

Mr. Altman, who has faced criticism over OpenAI’s direction, has culled company projects and is trying to be more disciplined with strategy.

If OpenAI Is Missing User and Revenue Targets, Are They Falling Behind the AI Race? - The New York Times

The artificial intelligence giant has reportedly fallen behind on its own user and revenue targets, raising questions about its data center and I.P.O. plans

OpenAI Unveils Its New, More Powerful GPT-5.5 Model - The New York Times

The maker of ChatGPT is taking a more open approach to cybersecurity than its chief rival, Anthropic.

Musk vs. Altman in the OpenAI Trial

 (9+) OpenAI Trial Live Updates: Elon Musk Testifies in Legal Showdown With Sam Altman - The New York Times

Elon Musk, who split from OpenAI years after cofounding it as a nonprofit in 2015, said it was putting commercial interests over the public’s. A company lawyer said Mr. Musk had sued because he did not get his way.

What Elon Musk’s Clash With Sam Altman of OpenAI Is Really About - The New York Times

Mr. Musk’s lawsuit against Mr. Altman and OpenAI makes the case that all-encompassing greed is Silicon Valley’s defining feature.

Elon Musk Assails Sam Altman on Social Media Before OpenAI Trial - The New York Times

Mr. Musk’s posts on X have pushed his narrative that OpenAI has lost its way.

Here Are the Key Players in the OpenAI Trial - The New York Times

Elon Musk, Sam Altman and several other key artificial intelligence industry figures are slated to testify in the trial, which is expected to last several weeks.

UAE Says It Will Leave OPEC as Iran War Strains Oil Markets

 UAE Says It Will Leave OPEC as Iran War Strains Oil Markets - The New York Times

The Gulf government has long complained about the group’s quotas, which officials believe unfairly limited its exports. Its departure is expected to weaken OPEC’s influence.

What Is OPEC, and How Does the Oil Cartel Influence Petroleum Prices? - The New York Times

The group of oil-producing countries supplied more than 25 percent of the world’s oil before the war in Iran. Its members have influenced energy markets through the years.

Amid Iran War and Tensions with Neighbors, U.A.E. Goes Its Own Way - The New York Times

The United Arab Emirates’ decision to leave OPEC has rocked the region, underscoring how the country, at odds with Saudi Arabia, is increasingly charting its own course.

Judge Says Maurene Comey Can Sue the Trump Administration for Firing Her

 Judge Says Maurene Comey Can Sue the Trump Administration for Firing Her - The New York Times

Ms. Comey, a former federal prosecutor who handled cases against Jeffery Epstein and Sean Combs, claimed in her suit that she was fired for political reasons.

Assassination Suspect Charged; White House Asks Judge to Let Ballroom Proceed, Indicts James Comey (2nd time), and takes another look at Kimmel

Charges Against Suspect in Trump Assassination Attempt Based on Shotgun Shell and a Screed - The New York Times

The authorities say the California man stormed a black-tie gala on Saturday seeking to kill the president. 

Adopting Trump’s Voice, Justice Dept. Asks Judge to Let Ballroom Proceed - The New York Times

The court filing links the security breach at the White House correspondents’ dinner to the lawsuit over President Trump’s ballroom project.

Trump Administration Secures New Indictment Against James Comey - The New York Times

The new case stems from a social media post showing seashells on a North Carolina beach that the Trump administration characterized as a threat against the president.

What to Know About the Kimmel vs. Trump Feud - The New York Times

The president and first lady took exception to a joke. Jimmy Kimmel defended it.

FCC Orders a Review of ABC’s Licenses Amid Feud Between Trump and Kimmel - The New York Times

The agency said the review was related to the network’s diversity and inclusion policies. But it came amid a fight between the president and the network’s late night host, Jimmy Kimmel.

After Another Attempt on Trump’s Life, Is Political Violence on the Rise in the U.S.? - The New York Times

A conversation with Sean Westwood, a professor at Dartmouth who tracks political violence and Americans’ perceptions of it.

Jamie Ding’s ‘Jeopardy!’ Streak Comes to an End

 Jamie Ding’s ‘Jeopardy!’ Streak Comes to an End - The New York Times

Jamie Ding, a self-described “faceless bureaucrat” from New Jersey, became a TV sensation during his 31-game winning streak. His streak is the fifth-longest in “Jeopardy!” history. He fell just one win short of matching James Holzhauer’s 2019 run, and he left the Alex Trebek Stage with more than $880,000 in winnings.

Even Before the Gunfire. Many Guests Bore the Scars of Political Violence; Live updates as suspect heads to court

 Even Before the Gunfire. Many Guests Bore the Scars of Political Violence - The New York Times (Thanks to Haadi for this one)

Live updates: Suspect in White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting expected to appear in court | CNN Politics (Thanks to Sam for this one)

Representative Steve Scalise, Republican of Louisiana, was seen being escorted to a secure room on Saturday. Mr. Scalise was shot at a congressional baseball game practice in 2017. Photo by 

Salwan Georges for The New York Times.

What went right this week: big cities breathed a little easier, plus more

 What went right this week: big cities breathed a little easier, plus more - Positive News Thanks to Joe for this one)

What went right this week: a ‘global milestone’ for ocean conservation, plus more

 What went right this week: a ‘global milestone’ for ocean conservation, plus more - Positive News (Thanks to Joe for this one)