Society – Page 8 – Scott J. Pearson’s Book Review

The Medium is the Massage: An Inventory of Effects

By Scott J. Pearson | November 27, 2020November 27, 2020 by Scott J. Pearson

In the 1960s, McLuhan presaged the communications age through his studies of “electronic media.” His thoughts shone light on the way forward and are now standards of understanding today. For instance, he coined the term “global village” in showing the ways of globalization. This work consists of much more than text. Published in black-and-white, it portrays a series of images that move the reader through the contention that media – particularly electronic media – “massages”…

Society Software-Technology

The Tangled Web We Weave: Inside The Shadow System that Shapes the Internet

By Scott J. Pearson | November 1, 2020November 1, 2020 by Scott J. Pearson

First, I must confess my biases. I develop software (browser- and mobile-based) for a living. I have committed my career to bettering the US healthcare system, both research and medical. I understand how the Internet works, in highly technical (and boring) detail. I work in a non-profit research university lab but willingly work with for-profit products. I mention this because Ball’s main audience in this work seems to be the general public and not me.…

Psychology Society

Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do

By Scott J. Pearson | October 20, 2020October 20, 2020 by Scott J. Pearson

This book was written in 2010 and covers how individual psychology affects society concerning race, gender, mental illness, age, and other differences. Its intended audience seems to consist primarily of Americans. However, it seems like the United States has travelled a long journey since 2010, since the beginning of the Obama era. That journey seems to have spanned places both on and off the beaten path towards social equality. After finishing this book, I’m left…

Economics Society

The Cost-Benefit Revolution by Cass R. Sunstein

By Scott J. Pearson | June 1, 2020May 31, 2020 by Scott J. Pearson

Sunstein, a Harvard law professor, has served in several administrations, both Republican and Democratic. In this book, he exposits his experience in regulation to suggest more effective ways to do so. Instead of partisan pro-con analysis, he suggests to measure costs and benefits, an idea originally implemented by Reagan through the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). This practice provides a pragmatic – Sunstein calls it “technocratic” – way of assessing which regulations are…

Biography-Memoir History Leadership Society

Grant by Ron Chernow

By Scott J. Pearson | May 25, 2020September 24, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

This Memorial Day is appropriate to celebrate one of our nation’s forgotten saviors. Although Lincoln is often credited with guiding the nation’s rebirth by preserving the Union, none of this would have happened without Ulysses S. Grant’s leadership. Still, Grant is often denigrated as an inept drunk and a butcher of soldiers. This view simply was not shared among his contemporaries who viewed his grace in Confederate surrender at Appomattox Courthouse as foundational in national…

Healthcare Society

Stuck: How Vaccine Rumors Start – And Why They Don’t Go Away

By Scott J. Pearson | May 9, 2020 by Scott J. Pearson

A casual perusal of social media will demonstrate an active debate about vaccines in contemporary society. Many cite (relatively rare) side effects and disregard abundant scientific studies about vaccines’ effectiveness; these people argue that they should have a “choice” over whether to admit a vaccine in their bodies. They do not heed arguments that herd immunity protects the herd better – that eschewing vaccines hurt us all. In this sociological work, Larson addresses how these…

Research-Education Society

Research Universities and the Public Good: Discovery for an Uncertain Future

By Scott J. Pearson | April 22, 2020April 23, 2020 by Scott J. Pearson

Recent years have witnessed funding cuts for universities, both at the state and federal levels. Due to economic factors beyond its control (like the Great Recession), research dollars from governmental sources have shrunk, and research budgets from industry have not risen. Industry’s and government’s interests differ in more immediate monetary applications versus long-term social gains. Someone must pay for university work, and oftentimes, that someone is the individual student and her/his family. Owen-Smith, a professor…

Society Software-Technology

The Internet of Things: What Everyone Needs to Know

By Scott J. Pearson | March 8, 2020March 8, 2020 by Scott J. Pearson

As a society, we have quickly moved into and out of the computer age and into the age of the world wide web. We are soon moving into the age of the Internet of Things (IoT). These comprise a myriad of devices which “talk” together via computer networks. They collect mountains of data on us and are poised to revolutionize virtually every sphere of human life. Although driven by technological advance, these changes are ultimately…