Arry's Airdrop #63: ?? 28 Books I Read in 2024

I shared this particular newsletter via email this past last week - sharing here on LinkedIn. You can get it directly in your inbox by signing up here: eepurl.com/hD2tND

Good morning, 2024 was the year for:

• Non-Technology?Rise in nationalism in the US.Industrial food bans in the US across the states: Red 40, Blue 5, etc...?The rise of RFK and many former Democrats joining up with Donald Trump.Growing awareness around industrialized processed artificial food.Personalized wellness?trends towards holistic health, mental well-being, and preventive care (increased use of naturopathic and homeopathic medicine)Sustainability in everyday life, with more people adopting practices like zero-waste living, urban gardening, and homesteading. (To me, this is a movement about freedom and independence.)The lack of investable assets with the debasement of currency has driven people to buy up property for cash flowing assets, AirBnb's.Revival of physical media like vinyl records, actual printed books, and film photography. (I was early back in 2006 wanting to start a company around this.?I think we need a trend towards what I call dumb phones. Phones with two functions: calling and texting. Is there such a thing? Apparently there are.)
• Advanced TechnologyThe continual rise of the Meme Coin (on Solana). (I'm a big fan of these arena personally.)The rise of Bitcoin to $100k+ all time new highs.?Also the Bitcoin ETFs. (Though I'm worried that such a big percentage, something like 90% of this is sitting only in Coinbase.)The obsession with artificial intelligence (AI), and integration into everyday activities.Many companies having employees return to the office (e.g. Amazon)Tech company layoffs.The crypto PAC impact?in the 2024 elections.Quantum computing is on the brink of achieving real-world applications. This is an area that'll become a trend very soon, like AI.?

Another trend I've noticed: The smart rich people I know locally have been moving from Washington state to Nevada. Las Vegas, in fact. Why? Well, I hear it's the 1) sunny weather, 2), easy trip because of the proximity to the best cities on the west coast, 3) lots of visitors, 4) no capital gains tax, 5) no death tax, 6) good real estate prices, and 7) you can do a decent drive from Seattle to Vegas. ?

Books I Read in 2024:?

All the books I consumed in 2024, with a comment or two about it from me. You'll notice, I lean heavily towards nonfiction in my reading tastes.?

1. How to Live an Extraordinary Life, by Anthony Pompliano > Really so thoughtful and wonderful. I want my husband and me to read the letters to our children each night.?
2. Blind Spots, by Marty Makery, MD > Eye opening and jaw dropping. I've spoken to more and more doctors who agree, and we need to really change how people consume healthcare services using doctors and specialists.?
3. The Diary of a CEO, by Steven Bartlett > Really great reminders and insights.?
4. Civilizations and Its Discontents, by Sigmund Freud > Extremely exhausting book that explores the?tension between an individual's desires and societal expectations. It's quite expensive to maintain civilization.
5. The Coddling of the American Mind, by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff > Very thought provoking and I really now love Jonathan Haidt's work. This was my second book of his I had to read. Critical thinking and analysis, civic discourse, and thinking for yourself.?
6. Of Boys and Men, by Richard V Reeves > we have spend so much of the last 50 years overweighting our attention to women, that men and boys have really taken a hit. We need to rebalance this approach. As a mom of three boys, this really hit home.
7. The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt > I read this and I triple committed to our children not having social media nor a smart phone in their hands until they can drive. That's age 16. And not before that. Other parents that make this commitment will be interacting with our family more and more.
8. Broken Money, by Lyn Alden > I have a big appreciation for all things by Lyn Alden. Really good read where I learned even more about our broken dollar.
9. Scary Smart, by Mo Gawdat > This was scary. And it's scary how smart AI already is - Ai is already smarter than humans, and humans have no way to control AI. We need to all pay attention.
10. Read Write Own, by Chris Dixon > I liked his book 90%. There was 10% where I didn't completely agree. I really liked how he explained Web3 and what's going on.
11. The Art of Gathering, by Priya Parker > Anyone that hosts meetings, hosts events, organizes dinners, coordinates parties, leads communities or meetup groups MUST read this book. It's a must for anyone that coordinates 2 or more people in any setting.?
12. Guns, Germs and Steel, by Jared Diamond > Geography largely (and hence environment and access to resources) drove the fates of human societies. I can totally see this. Peter Zeihan also argues this in his geopolitical writings.?
13. Wealthcare, by Dr. Brigitte Piniewski > I met Dr. Brigitte Piniewski and love the human being she is - and her insights about how the current medical care system does not work, similar to Dr. Marty Makery is jaw dropping. Knowing that my generation may be the last of the accidentally well, and being a mother of three - I know it is so important to our future generations that we really get this right. We need to get digital and AI right. We need to get healthcare right.?
14. Social Justice Fallacies, by Thomas Sowell > Really interesting perspectives that make you think about common misconceptions, flawed reasoning, and how good intentions can turn into just bad unintended consequences. I see too much of this happening in my own community.
15. First Principles, by Thomas Ricks > Loved this book. Explores how the classical education of America's founding fathers shaped their ideas and became the foundation for the United States.
16. Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner > I ventured into an atypical read for me. It was a bit?dramatic for my taste - talking about grief, identity and a young woman's experience with Korean American identity via food and family.?
17. The Last Election, by Andrew Yang and Stephen Marche > I like Andrew Yang as a human, and have met him a few times, so decided to pick a book he wrote to read. It was also a bit hard for me to follow its thought experiment on a potential outcome for the future 2024 presidential election. The system is fragile and lots can go wrong.
18. Dirty Genes, by Ben Lynch > Very interesting how genes can play a role in your health outcomes in how they are ultimately expressed. Genes are not predictors necessarily. What really struck?me is how much impact lifestyle and environment can have on how those genes become ultimately expressed.?
19. The Creature from Jekyll Island, by G. Edward Griffin > My blood was boiling during this one. The origins story of the Federal Reserve, aka the Fed. Definite must read if you want to understand how the system works.?
20. The?Storm Before the Calm, by George Friedman?> A mentor recommended this book to me. Looks at the cycles of American history, and lays out predictions for the coming decades. Definitely an interesting perspective. Along with this book, I also read a few of the books a couple years ago by Peter Zeihan which were eye opening.?
21. Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order, by Ray Dalio > I really enjoyed this book - data driven analysis of history and her cycles, and the rise and fall of empires. I liked his insights for what has happened and also predictions for what is happening and will happen.
22. The Mystery of Capital, by Hernando de Soto > this book changed my life. I think anyone and everyone MUST READ THIS BOOK. Why does capitalism thrive in some countries and fail in others? Property rights. Property rights are the key to unlocking economic potential anywhere.??
23. While Time Remains, by Yeonmi Park > I veered a little off to read this one too. My husband's family all came from North Korea. My mother in law walked from Pyongyang to Seoul with her family as a child. My father in law hitched a ride on a train for Seoul and then worked on the streets starting around the age 12 to survive. Learning about the reality of life in North Korea was surreal. Also hearing about her dejavu in current USA as reminders of what she experienced in North Korea was eerie: how the suppression of free thought (censorship), and how social justice ideas erode individual freedom and liberty.?
24. Bitcoin: Hard Money You Can't F*ck With, By Jason Williams > This was a difficult book for me to finish as an audio book. I like Jason Williams. Unfortunately, the female reader/voice just clashed so much with the actual words that were being read, a mental and auditory contradiction. Too painful. The content was probably good, though I could not pay attention because of the auditory dissonance.?
25. A Question of Choice, by Sara Weddington??> A mentor recommended this book to me. It's a memoir of the lawyer who successfully argued the Roe v. Wade case before the Supreme Court in the US - her legal strategy, what was going on for her personally, the historical context.?I'd recommend it for reading as well, because it's always good to hear?all sides, as there are at least three sides to any story. It did not change my perspectives. Her story might have made me stronger in my position, too. I will not be advocating for abortion rights.?
26. When Money Dies, by Adam Fergusson > Hyperinflation in the 1920s Weimar Republic in Germany was really bad. Currency collapse is something we should all hope to avoid. It's got devastating consequences.
27. 21 Women in Bitcoin, by Becca Bratcher > Love Becca and the Bratcher's. An official recommendation from me:?"21 Women in Bitcoin?is a celebration of innovation, resilience, and the power of decentralized finance. Through the voices of these incredible women, the book offers a comprehensive understanding of Bitcoin's role in shaping a more transparent and accessible financial system. As a proponent of Bitcoin and a leader in blockchain strategy, I endorse this book as an essential resource for anyone who aims to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving world of digital finance." - Arry Yu?
28. Dumbing Us Down, by John Taylor Gatto > I have 1 hour left of this audio book to go, and 1 day left until 2024 is over. General summary is we need less of the industrial age education system. I don't want my kids to go work for an industrial factory or an institution of any kind. I want them to build and create to add value to society. And as a mother and parent, I'm agreeing with him more and more. There is so much I can teach our children that would be so much more deep and full than what any school can provide. I've been thinking about this a lot.?

And I have some more stuff in the works. I took a step back while I imagined my life ending, and what would I regret not having done, and made my decision as such. In January 2025, I will include some announcements.? Reminder: I used to also teach Blockchain/Web3 Bitcoin Fundamentals via my own site, via Portland State University, via University of Washington's Milgard School of Business, and via Coding Dojo. A lot of my courses has been recorded. I will make them public (the ones that are free and I own.) and release them to you in 2025 as my gift to you. I'll share links when ready.? Happy new year! May the new year be one fulfilled with real hugs and meaningful relationships, with real non GMO/home made food, and more time enjoying the natural beauty of the world for you and your family. Warmly, Arry?

P.S. Did a friend forward you this newsletter? Get it directly in your inbox weekly by signing up here:?eepurl.com/hD2tND ?

SUBSCRIBE to the Airdrop &?get it delivered to your inbox?

How to support us indirectly:

Here are some of our favorite applications and services. Sign up --> you get a $$ incentive and we get a $$ bonus, too.

• Fold is one of my personal favorite ways to EARN bitcoin rebates while buying all the things I normally buy (groceries, doctor bills, Amazon delivery)?on a Visa debit card,?because of their spin feature. The Fold card is FREE. Here's my customized super easy-to-remember referral link:?https://use.foldapp.com/r/Arry
• CashApp is similar to Venmo AND you get a personalized debit card. Made by the company formerly known as Square, now named the Block. Headed up by @Jack.?You can buy/sell bitcoin with it. AND the debit card has occasional extra shopping boosts that you can use to get 5% in bitcoin from restaurants, up to 15% back for your purchase at Shake Shack,?or 5% back from groceries, as examples.?Get free $5 for using my link?XJCWNGQ:?https://cash.app/app/XJCWNGQ
• Lolli is a great way to EARN free bitcoin while doing all the shopping you would normally do anyway with household brand names like Nike, eBay, Expedia, and Starbucks. They have an easy browser widget, and a mobile app, too. Check them out using our referral code:?https://lolli.com/ref/XieXA6TC85
• Strike is built on the Lightning Network! Super fast and easy. This is @JackMaller's company. He was the one who?broke ground in El Salvador with bitcoin.?Join Strike and earn $5 when you sign up and verify your account using my referral code 0VIFRV:?https://invite.strike.me/0VIFRV?Oh and, Strike is how you tip folks too, like on Twitter!?
• Coinbase is one of the most popular ways to buy/sell and get into this risky, new and fascinating world of bitcoin. Not my favorite, because they tend to charge pretty high fees?to retail and newbies in the space depending on the volume of trades you do.?If you sign up, then try using?Advanced Trading, formerly known as Coinbase Pro for better fees.?Sign up and get free $10 in Bitcoin for using my referral link:?https://www.coinbase.com/join/yu_1k