Erudite and devastating critique of the precautionary principle, but it left me wondering if measures advocated by libertarian paternalism will be sufficient to manage risk in democracies.
Opera houses and economic growth
Opera houses and economic growth
As heard on Radio 4 and read in The Atlantic. 
Atari-ya sushi bar in Ealing
Go for the Super Nigiri Set.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDiCFY2zsfc
“The Iron Lady” directed by Phyllida Lloyd starring Meryl Streep. The plot is lazy and anything that could be interesting about Thatcher is missing. Streep, however, is magnificent.
(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)
Princess Victoria pub on Uxbridge Road
It is a spacious, beautifully renovated, quiet library where you can have a good scotch.
“Fox and Anchor” in Barbican
Very expensive (but terribly good) food and ale in tankards. Above average selection of whiskies. Great interior and pleasant live music.
“Thinking, fast and slow” by Daniel Kahneman
An exceptional synthesis of years of ground-breaking research that changed the way social scientists approach human thinking. No review can do it justice.
“Full Metal Jacket” by Stanley Kubrick
Perfect as a Christmas movie, it turns out.
Year from space
“The Loved One” by Evelyn Waugh
I don’t remember how this book appeared on my shelf (I have a shabby, paperback Penguin edition), but I’m glad it did. Name puns, dark humour, direct references and wildly-caricatured characters don’t offer the subtle wit of “Brideshead”, but it probably made a great film.
“Red-Blooded Risk: The Secret History of Wall Street” by Aaron Brown
A cool personal account of quantitative trading in the US. Awfully written, mainly because it doesn’t feel properly planned – there are a lot of I-also-wanted-to-add moments, side notes, non sequiturs, and repetitions. But, at times, it’s exhaustingly gripping (it didn’t last me more than a day). The thesis of the book is contained entirely in the accompanying comics. (Many thanks to Hiddi for the recommendation)
“Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty” by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson
I really look forward to reading this book.
