drcwpl

It is always a good reminder...

Incidentally, I agree with you on Night. I have visited Auschwitz 3 times, read widely on the horrors. It is a disheartening, horrible, read and experience to visit, but something more should do, maybe we would have more peace in our world... although I doubt it.

I can see how my exploration of the Mensa list might come across differently than intended. My aim wasn't necessarily to endorse this specific list or the 'IQ club,' but rather to explore the experience, the friction and challenge, that comes from engaging with demanding texts, wherever they are found. For me, it was less about surrendering judgment and more about using the list as a specific, challenging prompt to sharpen critical thinking against difficult material. Perhaps 'exercise regimen' isn't far off, but ideally one that builds perspective rather than just ticking boxes.

Thanks for the recommendation on Christopher Nguyen's "Value Capture".

Great point on the European/American spectrum.

haha - yes, in senior/high school my teachers were the same!

Thank you for sharing the link, I embedded it a few times. How the list is interesting (alphabetical) - I wonder how they are rated by Mensa grade 9-12 year olds overall

Anything by Lem and some early Wells still provide great joy at the age of 61!

Excellent catch, although I loved that book!

That is true... I certainly did not have that awareness when I was that age. I had a period locked in my room between 17 and 19 reading anything I could Bram Stoker, Dickens, 1st World war history and so on... but did for the joy and was not fully aware of the impact until much later.

I should add that point as a comment on the essay, thank YOU - I will link to it

Fabulous, I did not know about those resources, thank you. Will review carefully.

Exactly the point I made in the essay.

Paul G's post - https://x.com/paulg/status/1885001767525499301

Sam Altman replied why not 100x

Overall - People often hate asking themselves questions that threaten their comfort zone or self-image—like whether they’re truly happy, living up to their potential, stuck in fear-driven decisions, or repeating the same mistakes. These questions are unsettling but can spark significant personal growth.