Amie L Thomasson Book order

How to understand the mistakes we make about those on the other side of the political spectrum—and how they drive the affective polarization that is tearing us apart. It’s well known that the political divide in the United States—particularly between Democrats and Republicans—has grown to alarming levels in recent decades. Affective polarization—emotional polarization, or the hostility between the parties—has reached an unprecedented fever pitch. In Undue Hate, Daniel F. Stone tackles the biases undergirding affective polarization head-on. Stone explains why we often develop objectively false, and overly negative, beliefs about the other side—causing us to dislike them more than we should. Approaching affective polarization through the lens of behavioral economics, Undue Hate is unique in its use of simple mathematical concepts and models to illustrate how we misjudge those we disagree with, for both political and nonpolitical issues. Stone argues that while our biases may vary, just about all of us unwisely exacerbate conflict at times—managing to make ourselves worse off in the long run. Finally, the book offers both short- and long-term solutions for tempering our bias and limiting its negative consequences—and, just maybe, finding a way back to understanding one another before it is too late.

Philosophical theories often hinge on claims about what is necessary or possible. But what are possibilities and necessities, and how could we come to know about them? This book aims to help demystify the methodology of philosophy, by treating such claims not as attempted descriptions of strange facts or distant 'possible worlds', but rather as ways of expressing rules or norms.

On a frigid April night in 1912, the world's largest ocean liner struck an iceberg and sank, marking the beginning of a relentless fascination with its tragic story. Plans to locate and recover the Titanic emerged almost immediately, yet it took seven decades for the wreck to be found. Why does this particular shipwreck captivate the world among millions? In this engaging narrative, Daniel Stone uncovers the Titanic's story not as a ship but as a shipwreck, delving into the lives of eccentric individuals like Charles Smith, who devised an elaborate but impractical recovery plan, and Doug Woolley, who claims ownership of the wreckage. Stone explores the depths of the ocean where the Titanic rests, detailing how it broke apart and the misconceptions about the seabed's landscape at the time. He interviews scientists about the ongoing rust and decomposition threatening the ship's existence, which is predicted to vanish in a few decades. Amidst a global pandemic, he embarks on a journey across the Atlantic to find Woolley, while also reflecting on his own obsession with shipwrecks. Filled with humor and curiosity, this work offers a captivating exploration of the deep sea and the nature of obsession, reminiscent of the styles of Susan Orlean and Bill Bryson.