Wisereads Vol. 80 — Mavericks by Jenny Draper, Berkshire Hathaway's 2024 Letter, and more
Last week, we shared a full copy of Ben Putano's Great Founders Write, a guide to persuading, inspiring, and thinking more clearly through writing. This week, we're sharing an exclusive two-chapter preview of Jenny Draper's debut, Mavericks: Life stories and lessons of history's most extraordinary misfits.
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Most highlighted Articles of the week
Ask for no, don’t ask for yes
Rather than seeking approval from a busy higher-up, Letters to a New Developer author Dan Moore recommends taking initiative while leaving room for feedback. "When you have something you want to do and that you feel is in scope for your position, but you want a bit of reassurance or to let the boss know what you are up to, it’s common to reach out and ask them for permission. Don’t. Don’t ask for a yes. Instead, offer a chance to say no, but with a deadline."
40 Thoughts On Turning 40
Reflecting on 40 years of triumphs, regrets, and hard-earned wisdom, The Pathless Path author Paul Millerd offers insights on work, relationships, and transformation: "There are many rules worth paying attention to but many more are negotiable. We live in weird times and thriving in life likely requires weird approaches. If you aren’t shaking things up in random ways, you are missing out." On money and success, he notes: "Defining success on your own terms will create tension with those around you who don’t value the same things. It is easier to succeed like those around you but more satisfying to make progress against your own secret mission over the long-term."
My LLM codegen workflow atm
Harper Reed explains his approach to using LLMs for coding, emphasizing the need for a clear spec and comprehensive plan—especially to stay grounded when things go wrong. "When I describe this process to people I say 'you have to aggressively keep track of what’s going on because you can easily get ahead of yourself.' For some reason I say 'over my skis' a lot when talking about LLMs. I don’t know why. It resonates with me. Maybe it’s because it is beautiful smooth powder skiing, and then all of a sudden you are like 'WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!,' and are completely lost and suddenly fall off a cliff."
Most highlighted YouTube Video of the week
Algorithms are breaking how we think
Tech YouTuber Alec Watson, best known for his deep dives into dishwashers and other appliances, coins the term "algorithmic complacency" to describe the passivity that comes with letting algorithms dictate content consumption. "It seems to me like algorithms which promote content through a simple lens of positive or negative engagement would reinforce those binaries and contribute to polarization. And as people learn about new products through the slot machine of social media feeds, they can develop a learned helplessness where they will wait to be sold on a solution for their problems rather than be introspective and explore what their problems actually are and how they might be able to come up with their own solutions which don’t cost any money."
Most highlighted Twitter Thread of the week
Agency > Intelligence
In response to a tweet from Garry Tan, Andrej Karpathy reflects on his past overemphasis on intelligence, realizing that agency—not intellect—drives action. Quoting Grok, he explains: "It’s not quite the same as assertiveness or ambition, though it can overlap. Agency is quieter, more internal—it’s the belief that you can act, paired with the will to follow through."
Most highlighted PDF of the week
2024 Shareholder Letter
At 94, Warren Buffett pens another annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, unsure if it will be his last. He reassures readers that his trademark candor will continue under future CEO Greg Abel and reflects on past mistakes and successes. "Our experience is that a single winning decision can make a breathtaking difference over time. (Think GEICO as a business decision, Ajit Jain as a managerial decision and my luck in finding Charlie Munger as a one-of-a-kind partner, personal advisor and steadfast friend.) Mistakes fade away; winners can forever blossom."
Hand-picked book of the week
Mavericks
History tends to spotlight kings, queens, and conquerors—but what about the underdogs, trailblazers, and oddballs? In Mavericks, history enthusiast and London tour guide Jenny Draper introduces 24 figures whose lives took unexpected turns, whether by choice or sheer fate.
"We're going to meet the Rebecca Rioters, who smash up tollbooths while wearing women's clothing; Ellen and William Craft, who escape from slavery by dressing Ellen up as a white man; and Peter the Wild Boy, who lives in the woods and is taken in by the British royal family. These are all people to whom life has thrown a complete curveball and have found themselves on the weird side of history. We're also going to think about what we might be able to learn from these lives lived on the outskirts of probability, and see if they have anything we can use in our own, more statistically normal, lives."
We’re excited to partner with Jenny to share an exclusive two-chapter preview of Mavericks, featuring a couple who escaped slavery in style and an infamous trouser-wearing woman who inspired early plays. If you enjoy the excerpt, we encourage you to show your support by purchasing a full copy here.
Handpicked RSS feed of the week
Tolstoyan
With lyrical prose, screenwriter and author Jared Young explores big ideas in the Tolstoyan tradition on his Substack. From YOUTH: And what happens when it's gone: "The years that pass eat up your margin for error until there is no margin left. The mistakes you make are no longer flaws of inexperience, they are flaws of character. To be young is to be constantly on the precipice of perfection – just a little further and you’ll get there – but you never get there, and suddenly you’re old, and find yourself in a permanent state of imperfection, which you must reckon with."