History, Society & Technology

Twenty-five years after his original bestseller, Malcolm Gladwell revisits a critical question: how do ideas really spread in our modern, fractured world? This review explores his updated theory of social epidemics, from the "magic quarter" rule that allows a minority to flip the majority, to the power of "overstories" in shaping everything from the opioid crisis to LGBTQ+ rights. We break down Gladwell's analysis of how systems, context, and media create sudden, cascading change from seemingly small beginnings. This deep dive is for anyone fascinated by the hidden architecture of how our culture evolves.

What if AI didn’t mean the end of human creativity—but the beginning of something more collaborative? Co-Intelligence is a gentle yet powerful guide to working with AI, not against it. If you're a teacher, creator, or curious skeptic, this book might change how you think about the future.

What happens when childhood is replaced by curated feeds and filtered selfies? In The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt reveals how the shift from play-based to phone-based childhood has fueled a mental health crisis—and what we must do to bring our kids back to Earth.

What if the West wasn’t built in isolation—but shaped by centuries of cultural exchange, adaptation, and borrowed brilliance? In How the World Made the West, Josephine Quinn dismantles the myth of Western exceptionalism and reveals a far more interconnected historical tapestry. If you’ve ever suspected the story of civilization was more collaborative than competitive, this review is for you.

Sapiens isn’t just a history book—it’s a philosophical gut-punch that asks you to rethink everything you thought you knew about humanity. From the birth of myth and money to the rise of capitalism and biotech, Harari weaves a provocative tale of how our species came to rule—and what might come next. Whether you agree with him or not, Sapiens forces you to confront the invisible systems shaping your life. This review breaks down why that matters, what stuck with me, and how the book sharpened my lens on power, belief, and the future.