[clairity]

i recently re-read the wisdom of crowds, ~15 years now since i first read it. still good, still relevant. there's even a section on how quickly SARS was identified in international collaboration despite no central, coordinating entity.

it's covertly a book about statistical reasoning, but with no dry statistical language, subversive in a way. we need more statistical reasoning in the world, particularly around risk assessment, to subdue fear and panic.

edit: as for fiction,

james clavell's asian saga[0] series is entertaining historical fiction, which i've read twice.

pat conroy's southern portraits, particularly the lords of discipline and the prince of tides, both wrenching, haunting, and beautiful.

also in the historical/cultural fiction realm: anna karenina, crime and punishment, a tale of two cities, les miserables.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Asian_Saga