Kay’s Comments (group member since Jul 17, 2020)

Kay’s comments from the Read with Kay group.

Where: Chapter 2: The Negativity Instinct.
What: Rosling exemplifies 16 Bad Things Decreasing & 16 Good Things Increasing. I observed that the # of new music recordings released & scientific articles published exponentially increased whereas the # of plane crash deaths and expensive solar panels exponentially decreased in the 20th/21st century.
Thoughts: Given that all of these are products of creativity & innovation--which people can pursue/achieve only when they have satisfied their most fundamental needs--I thought their rates of change really spoke to how rapidly the living conditions have improved. At the same time, I wonder if select countries are the strongest drivers of global improvement in creativity & innovation. I have my assumptions but they aren't backed by any data so I'm hoping to look into them further.
Question to Group: What (if any) improvements caught your eye in this chapter?

Starting the thread on our first pick: Factulness by Hans Rosling.

This is an open forum, so feel free to share any interesting finds, thoughts, and questions with the group!

Recommended Format for Questions: Reference to specific chapter(s)/context + Your thoughts + Question

Recommended Format for Responses: Reference to specific people & their questions/responses + Your thoughts + Questions (if any)

+ Bonus Resource: The playlist of Hans Rosling's TED talks which includes the one featuring the world health chart at the beginning of the book

Hi all!

I'm happy to form this virtual reading circle with my favorite readers. Before we officially kickstart the group, I wanted to give a quick intro on everyone on board:

* MINJI is a friend from college I first got to know through a stats class and got to know better at the gym. She is an amazing trainer, an intense biker, and an energy-booster in the form of a person.
* HARI is a friend from a former internship whom I also got to know better at the apartment gym (haha-pattern much?). Originally from India and having lived in Texas, he is an avid traveler and a heavier reader.
* YOOJIN is a friend from high school I first got to know through playing basketball. Her dry humor is always on-point and she has been a part of other reading groups in the Bay area.
* SIYANG is a friend from work with whom I bonded over workplace woes, cute kitten pics, and Trader Joe's dessert selection. She is also a passionate biker and a master of react emojis.
* LUCAS is a friend from high school who loves running and Murakami. He has the most beautiful architectural pictures on his Instagram and had a Medium post trending for weeks.
* JANE is a friend from college I got to know over good food and by sharing similar study spaces on-campus. She is always engaged in community events and has the best ability to select restaurants.
* ELAINE (Ji) is a friend I got to know through the college psych program who is passionate about education. She is also deeply appreciative of religion, nature, and art.
* JAKE is a friend from college who is one of the most health-conscious and fittest people I know. He enjoys sarcasm/roast, good writing, and succumbs to an occasional boba tea.
* CELINA (Flaneur) is a friend from college who introduced me to yoga and with whom I practice emotional well-being. She is a lifelong learner, an amazing photographer, and a lover of the French language.
* AMY is a friend from college whom I got to know through a math modeling course. Currently located in Hong Kong, she was one of the strong & kind ladies in the department I was lucky to learn with.
* TAEKSEUNG is a friend from high school whose first encounter I cannot even recall because it dates back a decade. He loves soccer, is an escape room enthusiast, and has a spicy rice cake recipe that will bring tears to your eyes.

Looking forward to getting to know all of you better and excited about the upcoming discussions on our monthly picks :)