Voting for the Capitalist Party in SA Elections 2019

Avoiding identity politics I avoid aligning myself with labels, tags or groups because I don’t want to bear the consequences of associating with people where I have limited control over their actions. Political parties, in particular, are a minefield of identity politics. As soon as you identify as Republican/Democrat in the US, Labour/Conservative in the … More Voting for the Capitalist Party in SA Elections 2019

Skin In The Game – Nassim Taleb

I like to think of Nassim Taleb as a modern philosopher. “Modern” is somewhat misleading though, because Taleb vehemently opposes modernity, intellectualism, scientism and academia. Taleb likes practitioners and is opposed to anyone without skin in the game. Skin in the Game is essentially real investment, where one’s actions and opinions have consequence. Taleb’s latest book … More Skin In The Game – Nassim Taleb

The 8th Summit – Peter van Kets

Adventurer Peter Van Kets’ inspiring story and the techniques he adopted in order to complete three gruelling physical feats – rowing across the Atlantic (twice) and skiing to the South Pole. Most of the techniques were psychological and relate to targeting success elsewhere in life wherever challenges present themselves. An easy and undemanding read. Likely … More The 8th Summit – Peter van Kets

Could interest rates ever be too high?

I’m passionate about monetary policy and particularly the negative societal impact of low-interest rates. I disagree with the mainstream economic theory that interest rates should be lowered to stimulate economic activity. This short-term thinking underestimates the long-term negative consequences of inflation and artificially reducing people’s time preference, the interest rate. Given my disdain for artificially … More Could interest rates ever be too high?

The Three-Body Problem – Cixin Liu

Science fiction isn’t really my thing but The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu came highly recommended by one of my favourite finance writers, Ben Hunt, so I thought I’d expand my reading horizon. I read Three-Body Problem while on a recent winter break in sunny Mozambique. The unfamiliar nature was a particularly welcome distraction from … More The Three-Body Problem – Cixin Liu