What R U Reading? - The Way Left

Books and articles shaping progressive thought.

These are a few of my book recommendations. There are so many more I could list out but had to start somewhere. Read…read more…and then read again. Enjoy!

Book cover Why The Purpose of the Universe

Why? The Purpose of the Universe: Goff, Dr Philip: 9780198883760: Amazon.com: Books

Why are we here? What's the point of existence? On the 'big questions' of meaning and purpose, Western thought has been dominated by the dichotomy of traditional religion and secular atheism. In this pioneering work, Philip Goff argues that it is time to move on from both God and atheism. Through an exploration of contemporary cosmology and cutting-edge philosophical research on consciousness, Goff argues for cosmic purpose: the idea that the universe is directed towards certain goals, such as the emergence of life.

Cover of Stephen Hawking's book 'A Brief History of Time' featuring his portrait.

A Brief History of Time: Hawking, Stephen: 9780553380163: Amazon.com: Books

Our Universe and time from the genius mind of Mr. Hawking

Black and white portrait of a serious man speaking, titled 'Buckley Jr. The Maker of a Movement.'

William F. Buckley Jr.: The Maker of a Movement: Edwards, Lee: 9781610171557: Amazon.com: Books

He helped build and strengthen the conservative movement…his son abandoned it…look where it got us

Book cover of The MANIAC by Labatut.

Amazon.com : the maniac

A prodigy whose gifts terrified the people around him, John von Neumann transformed every field he touched, inventing game theory and the first programable computer, and pioneering AI, digital life, and cellular automata. Through a chorus of family members, friends, colleagues, and rivals, Labatut shows us the evolution of a mind unmatched and of a body of work that has unmoored the world in its wake.

Book cover about AI risks and consequences.

If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: Why Superhuman AI Would Kill Us All: Yudkowsky, Eliezer, Soares, Nate: 9780316595643: Amazon.com: Books

The scramble to create superhuman AI has put us on the path to extinction—but it’s not too late to change course, as two of the field’s earliest researchers explain in this clarion call for humanity.

Yellow robotic hand on black background.

The Naked Sun (The Robot Series Book 2) - Kindle edition by Asimov, Isaac. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

 

On the beautiful Outer World planet of Solaria, a handful of human colonists lead a hermit-like existence, their every need attended to by their faithful robot servants.

Book cover Murder the Truth by David Enrich.

Amazon.com: Murder the Truth: Fear, the First Amendment, and a Secret Campaign to Protect the Powerful – An Essential Investigation of America's War on Journalism eBook : Enrich, David: Kindle Store

"Authoritarian governments abroad have long used legal threats and lawsuits against journalists to cover up their disinformation, corruption, and violence. Now, as master investigative journalist David Enrich reveals, those tactics have arrived in America.” — Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of Strongmen

Black Holes book cover with colorful illustration.

Black Holes: The Key to Understanding the Universe: Cox, Brian, Forshaw, Jeff: 9780062936691: Amazon.com: Books

At the heart of our galaxy lies a monster so deadly it can bend space, throwing vast jets of radiation millions of light years out into the cosmos. Its kind were the very first inhabitants of the universe, the black holes.