Current Events

Crisis on Mount Hood

Background

Published in April 17, 2025. In Crisis on Mount Hood: Stories from a Hundred Years of Mountain Rescue, emergency room physician Christopher Van Tilburg examines the legacy and evolution of the Hood River Crag Rats, the oldest all‑volunteer mountain rescue team in the United States. The narrative traces over a century of rescue efforts centered on the iconic 11,249‑foot Mount Hood in Oregon. It weaves together archival accounts of daring rescues, the author’s own three‑decade involvement, developments in rescue technology and outdoor culture, and the mounting impact of climate change on the mountain’s glaciated terrain.

Crisis on Mount Hood
Crisis on Mount Hood

My Thoughts

I was interested in the topic and continually interested in what drives people to go out of their way to save other people. Again and again, the author talks about people who were not prepared to be on the mountain and how he, and others like him, have to go up and bring them down. This is done without pay, without much support, and often without recognition. I’m glad that there are people in this world who put the needs of others above their own.

Recommendation

Not a bad read, but it seemed monotonous at times.

Plan B: A Service-framed Examination of Economic Warfare

Background

Published in 2025, Plan B: A Service-framed Examination of Economic Warfare was released by the Marine Corps University Press as the first entry in its Marine Corps Futures series. The work originates from discussions within the Commandant’s Office of Net Assessment and considers how the U.S. might employ economic warfare, particularly against the People’s Republic of China. It analyzes the historical role of economic coercion, outlines how a blockade of energy supplies could shape a modern Sino-American conflict, and assesses how the Marine Corps could contribute to such a strategy. The book discusses both the potential advantages and the challenges of implementing blockade operations and concludes with recommendations for preparing Marine Corps forces for missions tied to economic warfare.

Plan B
Plan B

My Thoughts

It really is amazing at this time when thousands of man made satellites are in orbit, when supersonic war heads can drop straight out of the heavens and destroy us all without enough time to blink, that a simple naval blockage can bring a country to its knees. It seems very little has changed.

This was interesting reading although it wasn’t what I’d call a page turner. The concept is simple enough to grasp, but I just kept coming back to the thought of how fragile and interconnected we are as a global society. Much like the trucks that keep our grocery stores stocked, huge tankers keep whole countries supplied with energy and just about everything else.

Recommendation

I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have a direct interest.

The Anxious Generation

Background

Published in 2024, “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” by Jonathan Haidt examines the rise in adolescent mental health issues over the past decade, attributing much of the trend to the shift from play-based, in-person childhoods to screen-based, phone-centric upbringings. Haidt argues that this “great rewiring” began around 2010 with the widespread adoption of smartphones and social media, which disrupted key developmental processes. Drawing on psychology, sociology, and education research, the book outlines the ways in which this digital transformation has contributed to increased anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal among youth. Haidt proposes a framework for reversing these effects by advocating for later introduction of smartphones, more independence for children, and greater emphasis on real-world experiences.

The Anxious Generation
The Anxious Generation

My Thoughts

This was a truly terrifying read that caused a great deal of thought and rethinking of our current youth culture. After finishing the book, I believe there should be an additional volume addressing how this screen culture has rewired adults as well.

I’m more and more convinced about how plastic the brain and body can be. How someone can completely transform themselves given the right conditions. However, that concept is also at play with respect to sitting in front of a screen all day. This impacts us all. I really loved how well Haidt brought in the larger social influences in addition to the impacts on the individual. If you take a phone away from a young person, they still are in a world where everyone else has a phone and so they can’t interact like I was able to growing up in the pre-phone era.

The key take away for me? I like the saying, “Fake war and fake love does not make a real man.” – Unknown authorship. After reading this book, I could say, “Fake friends and impossible expectations will break anyone.”

Recommendation

An important read for any parent.

Co-Intelligence Living and Working wIth AI

Background

Published in 2023, Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick explores how artificial intelligence, particularly large language models like ChatGPT, is reshaping the way people learn, work, and create. Mollick, a Wharton professor, argues that AI is not just a tool to be programmed but a form of “co-intelligence” to collaborate with. The book outlines how individuals and organizations can engage with AI by experimenting directly with it, treating it as a creative and thinking partner rather than a traditional machine. He emphasizes a hands-on approach, encouraging readers to integrate AI into decision-making, writing, and problem-solving processes. The work also highlights the risks of misinformation and over-reliance, suggesting that human oversight and ethical considerations are necessary to use AI effectively.

Co-Intelligence Living and Working wIth AI
Co-Intelligence Living and Working wIth AI

My Thoughts

Much has discussion of AI has been swirling around my work as of late and this book was recommended by a coworker.

This was a really good book and very timely for me professionally. We are creating a distance education course on this topic and it gave me quite a bit to think about. In fact, I kept having to put the book down to write another note about something I wanted to try.

Recommendation

Great quick read! (Just over 200 pages.) It is worth your time to know more about AI.

The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google

Background

Published in 2017, “The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google,” written by Scott Galloway, is a critical analysis of how these four tech giants have come to dominate the global economy and influence nearly every aspect of our lives. Galloway explores the unique strategies and core business practices that have enabled Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google to achieve unparalleled growth and market power. The book provides insights into the companies’ impact on innovation, competition, and consumer behavior, as well as their role in reshaping industries and cultural norms. Galloway also examines the challenges and responsibilities these companies face given their monumental influence, offering a thought-provoking perspective on the future of technology and its intersection with society and the economy.

The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google
The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google

My Thoughts

It is very interesting to read this book 6 years in the future from when it was written. Some of what he said remained true and some didn’t quite turn out the way he anticipated. In fairness, it’s hard to see a global pandemic and the changes forcing everyone to stay home made on the market.

Recommendation

Still a good book even though it doesn’t quite hold up.

Putin’s World

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Background

Written in Feb of 2023, Putin’s World is a history of both Russia and Vladimir Putin. The book attempts to illustrate how Russia sees itself in the world and why Vladimir Putin has been so successful maintaining leadership in the post Soviet era.

Putin's World
Putin’s World

My Thoughts

This book was very interesting on a number of fronts. Having lived in Eastern Europe for a while, I had been exposed to the pride and even arrogance found in some of those cultures. I believe President Trump played to this perfectly even if he didn’t fully understand what he was doing. It does make me wonder where we would be in the Ukraine if he had another term in office.

There were a number of newer concepts that, I’m sorry to say, I didn’t think much about. I hadn’t really thought much of Russia as seeing itself as an Asian power rather than European. Of course, that doesn’t make much sense given the location and how it sees itself. It was simply a reflection of my ethnocentrism… I’m glad I had a chance to learn more and I look forward to more opportunities.

Recommendation

Great book on understanding Russia and it’s current president.

Thank You for Being Late

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Background

Written in 2016, this book as about modern life and the breakneck speed that everything seems to be changing. Three time Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist Thomas Friedman shares his perspective on how quickly things have changed and his quasi-biographical observations of how to deal with it and what else might be coming down the line.

Thank You for Being Late

My thoughts

I started reading this because my boss’s boss’s boss made an off handed comment about it. Now that I’ve read it, the comment didn’t make any sense. But that’s motivation for you…

The book was very interesting as it seemed to catalog the technological growth throughout my career. There were a number of antidotes that I felt could have easily been my experience. I don’t know that I agree with all of the observations but I do agree that we haven’t seen anything yet in terms of technology and general disruptions to our lives in general.

Recommendation

It is worth the read.