Episode · Modern Wisdom · 2025-03-24
Books mentioned on The Most Valuable Skill In The Modern World – George Mack
George Mack recommended Don't Tell Me I Can't by Cole Summers, and discussed Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman, How to Know a Person by David Brooks, and The Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson and others.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Don't Tell Me I Can't
Don't Tell Me I Can't by Cole Summers is an inspiring biographical work detailing the remarkable achievements of a young person who demonstrated extraordinary agency, education, and entrepreneurial drive outside of traditional schooling systems.
Recommended“So on the right end is one of the best books I've ever listened to. It's about an hour long. And I'll just open up a question first because it's completely reset this question for me which is what is a 10-year-old capable of and this book kind of answers that question. So it start it's a it's called don't”
Where to get it
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Learned Optimism
Martin Seligman's 'Learned Optimism' is a psychology book that explores how cognitive reframing and explanatory styles can help individuals overcome helplessness and build mental resilience.
Discussed“Uh, in fact, I'm reading a book at the moment by Martin Seligman, uh, that has a quiz, and much of the quiz is asking you questions about agency.”
Where to get it
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The Sovereign Individual
The Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson and Lord William Rees-Mogg is a provocative economic and political study exploring how the shift toward a digital information economy empowers individuals at the expense of the nation-state.
Discussed“There's a beautiful line in the sovereign individual where he talks about the Roman Empire falling”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (2) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“Victor Franklman, Search for Meaning in some ways, too.”
“Uh, the forgotten Highlander, Alistister Urkhart, you know, uh, Victor Franklman, Search for Meaning in some ways, too.”