Thought Economics: Conversations with the Remarkable People Shaping Our Century

by Vikas Shah

'Stimulating, intelligent and enjoyable discussions of the most important issues of our day.' STEVEN PINKER 'From entrepreneurs to athletes, and world leaders to entertainers, this is a fascinating collection of interviews with some of the world's most influential individuals.' MARK CUBAN 'Thought Economics is a fine rebuke to the soundbite culture; these interviews are driven by real curiosity, and there is a wealth of wisdom here.' EDWARD STOURTON ________________________Since 2007, entrepreneur and philanthropist Vikas Shah has been on a mission to interview the people shaping our century. Including conversations with Nobel prizewinners, business leaders, politicians, artists and Olympians, he has been in the privileged position of questioning the minds that matter on the big issues that concern us all. We often talk of war and conflict, the economy, culture, technology and revolutions as if they are something other than us. But all these things are a product of us - of our ideas, our dreams and our fears. We live in fast-moving and extraordinary times, and the changes we're experiencing now, in these first decades of the twenty-first century, feel particularly poignant as decisions are made that will inform our existence for years to come. What started out as a personal interest in the mechanisms that inform our views of the world, and a passion for understanding, has grown into a phenomenal compilation of once-in-a-lifetime conversations. In this incredible collection, Shah shares some of his most emotive and insightful interviews to date.

Genres: Nonfiction, Economics, Biography

93 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2021

Reviews

[Pranjal Chadda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid collection of interviews with some pretty remarkable people, however some of the questions posed by the author took a surprising sharp turn into mediocrity which was just tragic. Disappointing, but many of the more substantial questions really made up for it. I also noticed that sections discussing things like identity and the arts were highly boring, underdeveloped, and ridiculously simplified. I really only enjoyed reading the more business focused sections. Yay for Maya Angelou though! I would really recommend this as something for in between flights or on the go.

[Alicja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to LoveBookTours and the publisher for my copy.

𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘴 is an insightful collection of interviews with some of the greatest minds – from entrepreneurs and artists to athletes and renowned scientists. ⁣
⁣
For nearly fifteen years, Vikas Shah has been interviewing people shaping our world on a wide range of topics, such as identity, social responsibility, humanity, war, peace and justice. Not all interviewers respond in the same manner to similar questions, but what they all have in common, is curiosity – of themselves, people and the world in general. ⁣

[Justin Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought Economics is a book full of interviews with interesting people, often experts in their fields of expertise and with different areas of knowledge put together in this collection. The range of topics is vast and there are golden nuggets of information on every page. Vikas has put these interviews in a blog but has collected much wisdom and distilled some of this into this book.
- IDENTITY AND WHO WE ARE: The first section of the book looks at how we from our identities and who we are. We are all related and life came from one single life form over 3 billion years ago. We share 99% of our DNA with chimpanzees and 90% with a domestic cat, as well as a large amount with a banana, (and 70% with a sponge that doesn’t even have neurons) but animal that feel and see have a consciousness as well as us. We share our hormones, genetic make-up and the environment that we live in, but as well as that it seems to be the stories we tell ourselves within the story’s society tells also impact along with the culture we live in form who we are.
- It's interesting to wonder if we are social beings that are thoughtful or if we just stare out the window watching the clouds or we stare out the window and think of life and who we are. Perhaps the best way of looking at it is that we're on this planet for a brief short moment, full of light, colour and wonder and we should try and appreciate and make the most of it because eventually we all die, and all things will pass.
- CULTURE AND ART: The second part of the book is about culture and art, and how through poetry, novels, stories, pictures, film and art, we can make sense of our world and our place in it. Pictures and visual visions that we have through the stories can shape ourselves, and the world that we live in through the culture of our times.
- There's a lovely story by Maya Angelo, who was a black young girl, and who read a line by William Shakespeare, ‘when in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes, I all alone bemoan my outcast state’ which connected with her. She had no idea that Shakespeare was some white bloke who lived 400 years ago and his lines were so relevant that she thought he must be a black lady or person as he understood her human condition so well, and this is what poetry and stories can give us.
- Although most of us will live just a few decades, there is also the fact that much of us is 4.4 billion years old, with elements that make up all living things and forged from stars, stories and art help us in the journey through live and to not feel alone, Music is ingrained in us all, wherever we go, we could often be challenging football songs or singing music and it can be something simple as a chant or Beethoven Mozart Concerto, helps us to make sense of our lives and the world we live in.
- Art has gone from chalk markings in caves to the stained glass windows that told people stories, full of colour and wonder what they were sitting in church as most people couldn’t read, to the modern wonders of the cinema where a beam of light seems to shine as if onto a cathedral window, full of moving images that deep down, dwell and merge into our unconscious state and help us fill our brains to understand life and all the trials come with it.
- As our cultures and societies change, we often seek more kudos from our peers than from our elders, which not only helps us to understand ourselves and allows us to tell stories and to make sense of the world, but also it allows us to change culture in a similar way.
- People often are surrounded by history and ancient buildings, and yet have a collective amnesia of their past. We are nothing more than our hormones and emotions and the cell signalling transactions in our brain, but through these things by allowing ourselves to be open to art, whether it be poetry or written word or photograph. We can change history through a photograph, one may have stopped the Vietnam war and that's what art can do to change our culture for a better place.
- For much of our past and our lifespans that in the past were only a third in length to what they are today, and we had to live through wars, famine, plagues and for most of what, we were just trying to live, find food and shelter and pass on our genes were what mattered most. Now, we live longer, our food is plentiful, the only thing we really need to worry about is breathing in the air that we live in, that we can then now have the far greater and enriched life by the world through art and culture
- Art allows us to shape ourselves as we wander through this world on our own and allows us to connect with others and to help us with the journey that we undertake that we move through life.
- LEADERSHIP: The book then looked for leadership, and one of the interesting points is how many leaders seem to focus on division and stoking fear, chaos when we really need is to be able to connect and bring together people and share a vision for them to follow, put in the work to do it and make sure that vision is clear so that all those around them understand what is expected and what we want to achieve to make the world a better place.
- It's interesting to know that many people in the Navy or in Armed Forces will often feel more anxious about failure than they are about loss of life and this is how we define success, which nowadays seems to be power, wealth and fame. However, in the past, this wasn't always the case and other times, it might have just been people who wrote poetry. It's worth thinking that perhaps we should change what we define as success because having a few people who become wealthy powerful and famous leaves many of the rest of us well behind.
- ENTREPRENEURS: The next part of the book looks at entrepreneurs and that if we are going to come up with ideas, we need to be thinking about the ones that haven't been thought of yet, so it's worth keeping a notebook with you and asking people looking at situations where any need is required. However, entrepreneurs need to be thinking about not how to create wealth, but also are they doing something for the good of society and having that as a goal is really important step in creation a brilliant decision for someone to achieve. As someone once said, if you've never made a mistake, and you've never failed anything, you've never done anything and one of the most important things about entrepreneurs is learning from your failures and excepting that they're going to happen.
- DISCRIMINATON: The next section looks at discrimination and how people have used this usually through the security of trying to spread some form of religion and using class and colour as a form in which to show discrimination against others. This is something that happily has changed for the better but continues to be something we should strive to continue to improve and to stop discriminating and to see people as equal, although different due to culture and ideas that they have.
- One of the most insignificant problems about inequality is that for some people, it really benefits them, and they can make a lot of money out of promoting terrible approaches to how we should treat other people. Such things include big business and religions and people trying to spread their word through ignorance, and not accepting that other cultures are different to our own. So many acts of genocide and crimes against humanity have been created or occurred just through no other reason that create an ‘us and them’ discrimination and accepting or trying to create the idea that some people are better than others. Actually, it is variety and differences that enrich our lives, even though many people try to promote these ideas that are really quite hurtful.
- SEXISM AND GENDER: It's a sobering fact that more women have been killed in the last 50 years because of their gender than all the men in all the battles of the 20th century”. This idea that women are a second rate or lesser person than males, is in my opinion wrong, but it is something that is constantly occurring in our world.
- Women's rights and suppression is a human rights issue not some sort of moral issue and should be seen as such because there is so much discrimination. “In the UK, when women tried to speak out about gender inequality we're often told, “you don't know how lucky you are!... However, “every year 54,000 women lose their jobs as a result of paternity discrimination, 85,000 women are raped and 400,000 sexually assaulted.” When women are educated, they will have much better outcomes for their children in regard to how they treat them and the health and support they can give, but in many countries these rights do not occur.
- There are currently 72 countries where same sex relationships are either illegal or results in imprisonment and even the death penalty.
- One of the things about the Internet is it's given rise to so much hate speech and people really try to promote fear, uncertainty, and doubt. (FUD). We hear stories around the fear from refuges and immigration. Stoking fear is powerful, and making people doubt when people aren't telling you the truth, but they're telling you their truth and their facts and their belief and stating them as facts when they're not.
- In many ways, the biggest casualty of all of the lies and perpetuations sent on the Internet, and through social media is TRUTH.
- Another interesting aspect is that we are all descendants from Africans and yet we have managed to make and construct race where some people are deemed more superior to others and my personal opinion this is just quite wrong because in many ways we are all from we are all connected and we are all from the same background if you go back far enough.
- Just because we have evolved from an ape ancestor, from a handle to add to an axe (which took a million years or more) to sending men to walk on the moon, we may have become more intelligent, but we haven't necessarily grown wiser.
- To change and free us from the prison that we've created through the societies and the cultures that have become the norm, we need to be able to see people through the eyes of others to develop understanding and respect for others.
- WAR AND CONFLICT: The next part of the book looks at war, and how war has made many people lose their lives, so that the rich can get richer. When we have inequality and others have large amounts of wealth and reduce people rights, then you are more prone to having warfare occurring both in civil wars, and in war between other countries. It’s interesting to know that after most wars have finished that there is seldom peace that occurs or reconciliation following the war, and this can be due to people who have lost family members who will struggle to forgive and forget what has happened to their own loved ones. Although we can change infrastructure following wars and make new administrations and do rebuilding, one of the things we also need to consider is the narrative that people have told themselves within the narratives of the society and culture that surrounds them, and perhaps one of the only ways we can truly find a way of seeking peace is through the act of forgiveness, which is free, and also will really annoy your enemies because nothing hurts them more than being having the power that they no longer have control over you, because you have considered forgiveness. However, this isn’t always possible.
- The book also asked the question what a refugee is, it is no longer necessarily just somebody fleeing from repression or religion, but it is also people, for example coming from Africa who are just fleeing from a country that is unable to look after them, and if they do not flea, they will certainly die.
- There are 65 million refugees in the world, which is roughly the population of the UK, but nine out of every 10 refugee is actually a refugee in their own country or a neighbouring country, and only one in 10 actually make it to Europe. It is only when they get to Europe that we call this a crisis and until then it's not, which is a bit strange.
- Plato, once said that ‘only the dead know the end of war’, and one of the sad factors of our culture is that we tend to glorify war, and speak of it in noble terms when we need to realise that it is a way for rich people who want some land from somebody else, or seek some injustice or grievance, to send young men who are often innocent of any such cause, to their death, so that the powerful elites gain glory, wealth and their riches can be maintained.
- DEMOCRACY: The book, then looks at democracy and how this has been a bit of an experiment and begins with the Winston Churchill quote about if you want to have an argument about democracy and how bad it is the “have a five-minute conversation with the man on the street”, but then he also said of “democracy is the worst form of government, except for all others.”
- One of the interviewees, Michael Lewis talks about how people in America, no longer see themselves as citizens, but as customers and demanding what the government can do for everyone. Only when we consider the good of everyone rather than just our own selfish needs, we can create a better world, and that's how democracy should be working.
- It's important to know that politics is a complex business and you're never going to please all the people all the time, but we still need to have the idea that the voice of the citizen can help for the benefit of all, not just for themselves to create a strong government. Supporting countries less fortunate than ours can reduce inequality and reduce movements of some refuges.
- Someone once said that referendum are the tools of demagogues and dictators, but it's also interesting to know that when it came to an Brexit, this was mainly a tool used by government not in the interest of people, but as a tool to fight oppositions within their own party, and that was not a good outcome, and many of their lies they told have now come to be shown to be false.
- If one day, it might be that we need a really bad emergency or terrible thing happens for people to wake up and realise that actually having skin in the game is something worthwhile having, but whilst we have so many populist spreading misinformation and sowing fear, uncertainty and doubt, then it is very difficult to people to understand what is truly going on, and the value of having something like true democracy might just be an experiment that is a worthy thing that is worthwhile having.
- Lots more nuggets but the points above are the ones that have stuck me the most whilst reading.

[Tristan von Zahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the best thing I can say about this book is that it is "alright". If that sounds like damning with faint praise, that is because it is. I think what ultimately resulted in me coming away feeling lukewarm on it is an incoherent structure. While some of the questions posed in these interview snippets are interesting, and some of the answers equally interesting, it seems very clear that there has been an attempt made to cluster certain answers to fit a question that was not originally asked of a particular interviewer directly. It leads to sections where it feels like the interviewee has gone off on a tangent out of nowhere, where I am sure that would have made far more sense in the context of the original interview. The result is numerous 'answers' that don't line up 1-1 with the question and make the overall structure messy.

What I also find baffling is the decision to take interview snippets out of context in order to group them with pithy questions. Shah opens the book by lamenting the rise of short form content and says that what motivated him to start the blog (and presumably write the book), is to create more thoughtful, long form content. The fact that we get what are in essence "Facebook length" posts somewhat responding (maybe) to a question seems entirely at odds with that goal. What could have saved this would have been if Shah used the structure that a book allows to weave his own narrative and included these answers as a part of his thinking. There is some attempt at that during the closing of each chapter, but without a coherent structure for the preceding chapter these end up reading like summaries of some of the highlights of the interview. The book not having a conclusion to tie everything together is a strange choice too.

Lastly, I find some of the choices of interviewee extremely odd. The book is billed as "conversations with the remarkable people shaping out century", but includes a non-trivial amount of hacks (see Jordan Peterson) and old, inactive individuals (the most egregious being FW De Klerk who should honestly never have been allowed to give his nonsense opinions on Apartheid). I understand the restrictions placed on Shah - he openly admits that he only gets interviews from the willing and is often met with rejection - but more curation of this list would have been a wise decision.

Should you read it after it sounds like I've trashed the book completely? If pressed I would probably say that it is worth it by virtue of the fact that some of the interviews and answers are worth pondering over (I haven't given examples because I am guessing that what different people find worthwhile will be different) but I certainly wouldn't rush out and secure a copy.

[Jo Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher and Love Books Tours for the gifted copy of this book in return for my honest opinion

For those who are a little hesitant when it comes to reading non-fiction, I can assure you that this book is accessible, friendly and conversational, as well as deeply thought-provoking. The introduction made me smile with its reassurance that the author is not a “shiny” entrepreneur and from that first paragraph, I was hooked. Some collections of essays or interviews can feel a little serious, but this is one which anyone could open and find a topic or person’s thoughts they’re interested in exploring.

Elif Shafak’s views on finding identity in this world gave me my first epiphany - that I am not a label, I don’t have to allow one part of my life , my job, my gender define me but it is all the many parts of my past and present that provide the building blocks to who I am.

David Bailey and Rankin’s thoughts on the power of photography made me stop and just sit, thinking about their words and the images I’ve seen in the media over the years that have created pivotal moments in my life.

I’ll be quoting some of the ‘On Leadership: Bringing Humanity Together’ section in my job in organisational development; they feel fresher somehow than many opinions I’ve read in the past, perhaps because they come from answers to Shah’s interview questions instead of featuring in a polished and edited book they’ve written on the subject.

In light of recent events across the globe and in the UK, I found the ‘On Discrimination and Injustice’ section thought-provoking and insightful. With topics ranging from racism, mental health, online trolling and activism to name but a few, this is a powerful collection of voices which well and truly stirred up my own inner activist.

The list of interviewees is impressive and contained names I was already familiar with, such as Carlo Rovelli, Matt Haig and Jameela Jamil as well as some I wasn’t. I’ve spent considerable time reading more about the people whose voices stirred up such passion in me and this added to my enjoyment of Vila’s Shah’s book.

This has been the most thought provoking collection I’ve read in terms of content and the journey of personal, biographical and topical exploration it has inspired in me. I’ll be continuing to dip in and out of it and visiting the website for years to come.

[Lisa's Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chapter 3 discusses: Leadership: Bringing Humanity Together. The ” tools of leadership we see are command, control and divide rather than collaborate, connect and unite”, says Jacqueline Novogratz. We should be rethinking the definition of leadership. Leaders should be filled with compassion and make decisions based on moral and ethical commitments to society. Stephen Schwarzman, of Blackstone, believes that all employees need to feel like equals. They bring them together to discuss issues and problems and everyone is free to offer their opinions. Having a team behind you is necessary, because the leader isn’t infallible. Having a personal relationship with the members of the team is also important. It’s important to connect with people and where everyone feels at home, Carlo Ancelotti believes in having mutual respect, but must be the collective voice. General Richard Meyers believes that the ego must be put aside in order to build relationships and trust.

In Chapter 7, there are discussions on democracy by many distinguished world leaders. Democracy works if the voters are well-informed and are willing to look out for others and not just themselves. Bassem Youssef talks about democracy only working if the minorities are equally protected, and not just the wealthy and powerful. Various men in this chapter discuss their reasoning about why democracy is or isn’t working in America. Leaders from other countries discuss how various types of extremism are causing problems within democratic states.

I have found these chapters to be very thought-provoking and filled with wise men who share their specific reasons for what they believe about democracy.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Md Akhlaq · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀: 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆 by @thisismrshah

I have never read such a diversified confluence of ideas in a single book.

𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘌𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘴 is an insightful collection of interviews with some of the greatest intellects – from entrepreneurs, leaders, artists, entertainers to athletes and renowned scientists. ⁣

Author Vikas Shah in this book talking over areas like culture, art, democracy, education, gender, mental health, poverty, feminism, injustice, war, music, leadership, identity, discrimination, and entrepreneurship and much more.

Multiple opinions on a single question are the most precious aspect of this book. This has been the most thought-provoking collection I’ve read in terms of content and ideas.

For those who prefer to avoid reading non-fiction, I can assure you that this book is susceptible, generous and talkative, and fiction readers will also love it equally. Love this book it's a good way of reassessing your thinking. This book will lead you to shift your thinking, but also build empathy for the views of others.

I loved this innovative concept of thought economics. A truly uncommon book infused with insights and highly recommended.

[Bookswithacuppa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an insightful and fascinating book this is. Vikas Shah has gathered and presented interviews and conversations he has had with a whole range of incredibly influential people on some very salient topics right now.

Vikas has laid this book out by topic; discussing areas like culture, art, music, leadership, identity, discrimination, and entrepreneurship with some incredibly talented people such as Maya Angelou, Moby, Heston Blumenthal, Matt Haig, Richard Branson, and Marina Abramovich to name just a few.

It is just wonderful to soak up how these fascinating people think and Vikas’ interpretations of these insights were riveting. I’m drawn to curious people and I love learning, and I found this book immensely stimulating.

Even though I inhaled this book, it can easily be dipped in and out of and chapters don’t need to be read in order.

A question we are sometimes asked is who would you have at your fantasy dinner party. Well... I feel I have been invited to the ultimate dinner party and experienced the most enjoyable evening with some of the most incredibly insightful, and philosophical people of our time. Thank you Vikas!

Thoroughly recommend to all!!

[Nicky Maunder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Curated from his many interviews over time with a whole host of subjects on all manner of topics. This is an insightful mix of thoughts, musings and opinions taken from “conversations with the remarkable people shaping our century”. And boy what a list of people he’s included.

Covering several topics including identity, culture, leadership, entrepreneurship, discrimination, conflict and democracy - and each section has several subsections as Shah pulls out key points or common themes. Some of the topics discussed are absolutely fascinating (although I will admit some of the more business-orientated topics slipped over my head!)

I really liked how included some well known popular/well known thinkers (Jameela Jamil, Matt Haig, Moby) there’s also some unknown thinkers thrown into the mix (Vicente Fox, Guy Verhofstadt). It’s full of informative commentary on life, and it’s very topical.

[Kayleigh Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vikas Shah has transformed his brilliant blog into this stunning, and very accessible, collection of interviews with thinkers, do-ers, writers, dreamers and leaders.

It covers topics including, but not limited to, fears, hopes, education, gender, mental health, poverty, feminism, injustice and democracy and shares the responses to these topics from the likes of Maya Angelou, Matt Haig, Elif Shafak, Lemn Sissay, Bear Grylls, Richard Branson, James Dyson, David Bailey as well as being an introduction to so many other experts and leaders in their field.

I love the concept of Thought Economics, and thought the foreword and commentary from the curator explained brilliantly and beautifully what this book sets out to be. By my account, it’s a huge success.

[Daisy Hollands · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an interesting book, covering a variety of topics from identity and culture to conflict and democracy. You will recognise a lot of the people featured, others I’m sure will be new to you, like they were to me. Some I had heard of but hadn’t read any of their thoughts and opinions. That’s why this book is invaluable. Everyone has an opinion and it’s good to hear from other people. I like to be open-minded and to absorb other peoples’ thoughts. This is a book you can read cover to cover or you can just dip in and out of. There is so much wisdom and lived experience in the pages of this book. A must-read.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fascinating book!

Vikas has complied a compelling compendium of people from all walks of life reflecting on the issues facing humanity today.

A book I have dipped in and out of the last few weeks, with some more interesting sections than others.

My only criticism was I'd like to read more from some of the speakers - the clips were good, but I wanted more! I also felt at times that the personal reflections from Vikas imposed a little on the flow of the text - this was just in a couple of instances though, on the whole his comments added to the overall narrative.

[Jerry Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly interesting and thought provoking read. It doesn’t aim to provide answers to some of the key issues of our age but it neatly provides snapshots of the views of some of leading figures in business, politics, sport and art. Hats off to Vikas for not only getting interviews with a stunning range of people but for eliciting such readable quotes from them and then arranging them into a remarkable book.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and thought-provoking

[Nitya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book that brings such a diverse group of people's opinions to light about the questions we have everyday. More than anything, it's pushed me to read Vikas's website, which is plain awesome

[Diogo Lorga · Rating 4 out of 5]

conjunto de entrevistas a todo o tipo de pessoal. bom livro, as vezes um bocado repetitivo mas vale pelos entrevistados