Kevin Simler, a well-known writer and enthusiast of technology, co-authored the book with Robin Hanson entitled "The Elephant in the Brain" His areas of exploration include topics on psychology, sociology, and motives underlying human behavior.
The Selfish Gene
Kevin SimlersourceI came up on Richard Dawkins’s “The Selfish Gene” and Dan Dennett’s “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea,” both of which are excellent
The Lessons of History
Kevin SimlersourceIt’s not that they’re my very favorite books (although they’re all up there), but also that they’re mercifully short, so as not to be a burden on people
How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen
Kevin SimlersourceI think it’s good (but what do I know!)
The Dictator's Handbook
Kevin SimlersourceAll in all, I highly recommended The Dictator's Handbook. It does what too many works of social science utterly fail to do, i.e., TAKE INCENTIVES SERIOUSLY. It also pairs nicely with The Elephant in the Brain (esp. the chapter on politics)
Against the Grain
Kevin Simlersource“Against the Grain” by James C. Scott
The Cultural Revolution
Democracy in America
Kevin SimlersourceI also hope to read Democracy in America someday...
Class
Kevin SimlersourceIt’s not that they’re my very favorite books (although they’re all up there), but also that they’re mercifully short, so as not to be a burden on people
Impro
Kevin SimlersourceImpro, The Lessons of History, The Tao of Philosophy, and Class by Fussell. It’s not that they’re my very favorite books (although they’re all up there), but also that they’re mercifully short, so as not to be a burden on people
Darwin's Dangerous Idea
Kevin SimlersourceI came up on Richard Dawkins’s The Selfish Gene and Dan Dennett’s “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea, both of which are excellent
Why Information Grows
Kevin SimlersourceRelated to knowledge and science, I'd tentatively recommend Michael Nielsen's book "Reinventing Discovery" or Cesar Hidalgo's "Why Information Grows"
Strangers to Ourselves
Kevin SimlersourceThanks for the kind words Jonathan. Really enjoyed "Strangers to Ourselves" — such a counterintuitive but important set of ideas
The Strategy of Conflict
Kevin SimlersourceIt’s a great book and very accessible; I generally recommend it
Hive Mind
Kevin SimlersourceYeah I also sense that our culture has cultlike reverence for IQ out of proportion to its value (esp. relative to other traits). But then I haven’t read Hive Mind, which I imagine makes a good case for IQ....
Knowledge and the Wealth of Nations
Kevin SimlersourceThanks for the info and the podcast link. I know there are many angles on this thing! IIRC the economists have also been studying it (not too surprising), but I'm not too familiar with the literature. I think these two books touch on it
Reinventing Discovery
Kevin SimlersourceRelated to knowledge and science, I'd tentatively recommend Michael Nielsen's book "Reinventing Discovery" or Cesar Hidalgo's "Why Information Grows"
The Tao of Philosophy
Kevin SimlersourceImpro, The Lessons of History, The Tao of Philosophy, and Class by Fussell. It’s not that they’re my very favorite books (although they’re all up there), but also that they’re mercifully short, so as not to be a burden on people
Every Cradle Is a Grave
Kevin SimlersourceFwiw, I've engaged a little with these ideas, mostly by reading Sarah Perry's book "Every Cradle is a Grave." I still happen to think human life/consciousness is subjectively good, broadly and on net, but that book made me a lot less certain about it
The Sense of Structure
Kevin SimlersourceMy favorite writing book (maybe the only writing book i've ever seriously learned from) works primarily by teaching you what's going on in your mind as you read a passage
Retreat to Commitment
Kevin SimlersourceCool. This reminds me of W. W. Bartley III's "The Retreat to Commitment" — one of my favorite books (but pretty obscure). It's kind of like a book-length version of your post: a rejection of the "tu quoque" argument against rationalism
Kevin Simler's list of books to read (updated 2025).