Seeing the Unseen: 8 or 9 Influential Books

The Power of an Evolving Worldview

A U.S. Senator once told me, "you see things others do not see." This intuition is not an indulgence in ego, it grants me the ability to question conventional assumptions and piece together insights that unravel hidden patterns, it helps me see what is truly unfolding beneath the surface.

Worldviews as Collective Justification Systems

Because of this 'foresight' I have been blessed to be ahead of many waves. I think this is one of the reasons that I deliberately sought out, and nurtured, a worldview. Worldviews are more than just personal philosophies, they are "collective justification systems," the foundation upon which societies build their goals, their norms, and their futures. In his book The Romance of Reality, Bobby Azarian describes worldviews as mechanisms for stabilizing the social collective. Jordan Peterson, in Maps of Meaning, paints them as maps for charting the chaos of existence.

The Markov Blanket of Society

I think of a worldview as the Markov blanket of society, an invisible boundary separating internal calm and coherence, or congruency, from external chaos. A worldview is also like a filter, sorting and shaping ideas into a story that makes sense for a group. It brings people together, forming a kind of collective mind we call society. There may not be walls or fences, but the boundaries are real, keeping the group strong while staying flexible enough to grow, protecting the integrity of the group while allowing it to adapt.

Contributions to the Community

In the grand scheme of things, individual contributions matter. Not for their strength or intelligence alone, but for their capacity to preserve and enrich the social community. Each person’s unique perspective, their words, their art, their actions, brings together new patterns into the collective worldview. These patterns may seem insignificant in isolation, but together they form the fabric of civilization.

A perspective that challenges the status quo isn’t necessarily a threat, it can also be a lifeline, pulling society toward its next evolutionary stage.

Cultural Worldview

Just as neurons in the brain work in concert to create consciousness, individual minds shape the cultural worldview. The beauty lies in the tension, the collective thrives on unity, yet it needs dissent to evolve. A society too rigid becomes brittle, unable to adapt. A society too loose loses coherence, unable to function. The balance, dynamic, precarious, and vital, depends on individuals who see what others do not and dare to share it.

Seeing What Others Do Not See

To see what others overlook is to bear a heavy burden. It means standing at the edges of understanding, where comfort gives way to uncertainty. It means asking questions others are afraid to ask and offering answers they’re unwilling to hear. This role is not chosen lightly. It demands: Deep Observation: The ability to notice patterns, anomalies, and blind spots in the dominant worldview. To find the overlooked and name the unnamed. Articulation of Insights: The courage to translate observations into ideas that resonate, challenging the collective without alienating it. Grit to Pushback: The strength to endure resistance, knowing that progress often begins with rejection.

There is a quote often associated with Erwin Schrödinger, but it does not appear in his published works or known letters, so there is no definitive evidence that Schrödinger actually said or wrote it. Nevertheless, here it is:

"The task is not to see what has never been seen before, but to think what has never been thought before about what you see every day."

Regardless of its origin, the quote highlights the importance of perspective and interpretation. It suggests that true innovation and understanding come not just from observing new things, but from finding new ways to think about the familiar. The sentiment of the quote aligns with concepts explored by many thinkers and scientists, including Schrödinger himself. It relates to ideas of: Paradigm shifts: Changing the way we perceive and understand the world. Critical thinking: Analyzing and evaluating information rather than passively accepting it.

Influential Books in Shaping My Worldview

The development of my worldview and analytical approach toward AI innovation and policy has been profoundly shaped by eight key books:

1. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn

   Kuhn’s masterpiece opened my eyes to the non-linear nature of progress. Far from the smooth and steady accumulation of knowledge, scientific advancement, as Kuhn demonstrates, often comes in fits and starts, driven by paradigm shifts that challenge and ultimately overthrow established norms. His concept of “normal science” followed by “revolutionary science” underscores the tension between tradition and innovation, a dynamic that resonates far beyond science itself. Kuhn’s insights have helped me see innovation as a fundamentally disruptive and courageous act, one that forces society to confront its entrenched beliefs and adapt to new ways of understanding.

2. The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen

   Christensen’s analysis of disruptive innovation has become a foundational lens for understanding how new ideas thrive. He lays bare the paradox facing established organizations, the very practices that enable their success also sow the seeds of their obsolescence. By focusing too intently on serving existing customers and optimizing current technologies, they leave themselves vulnerable to nimble upstarts. This book has profoundly shaped my understanding of the conditions under which innovation flourishes, underscoring the importance of creating spaces where risk-taking and experimentation can thrive.

3. The Wealth of Networks by Yochai Benkler

   Benkler’s exploration of decentralized collaboration illuminated the transformative potential of networks. His work reveals how technology enables collective action on an unprecedented scale, reshaping economies, governance, and cultural production. By emphasizing the interplay between openness, shared knowledge, and creativity, Benkler’s book has fundamentally altered how I think about the mechanisms of innovation in the digital age. It reinforced my belief that collaborative ecosystems, rather than hierarchical structures, will define the future of progress.

4. Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter

   Hofstadter’s intricate tapestry of ideas, spanning mathematics, art, music, and philosophy, is a celebration of recursion, patterns, and the interconnectedness of disciplines. His exploration of self-referential systems and the emergence of meaning from complexity has deeply influenced my perspective on creativity and human thought. This book embodies the spirit of innovation by demonstrating that the most profound insights often emerge at the intersections of seemingly disparate fields. It’s a reminder that true breakthroughs come from seeing connections that others overlook.

5. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

   Kahneman’s groundbreaking work on cognitive biases and the dual systems of human thinking, fast, intuitive System 1 and slow, deliberative System 2, has reshaped my understanding of decision-making. This book has not only deepened my appreciation for the complexities of human nature but also highlighted the pitfalls that can stifle innovation, such as overconfidence and resistance to change. It’s a sobering reminder that progress requires overcoming the biases that cloud our judgment and embracing the uncomfortable truths revealed by data and experimentation.

6. The Square and the Tower by Niall Ferguson

   Ferguson’s exploration of the interplay between hierarchical power structures (the “square”) and informal networks (the “tower”) offers a compelling lens for understanding the dynamics of innovation. His historical analysis shows how networks have consistently driven change by challenging entrenched hierarchies. This book has reinforced my belief that the most transformative ideas often emerge not from the center of power but from its periphery. It’s a call to nurture the informal, decentralized systems that enable creativity to flourish.

7. The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch

   Deutsch’s ambitious work is a celebration of the boundless potential of human creativity and understanding. By arguing that problems are inevitable but solvable, Deutsch positions knowledge creation as the engine of progress. His vision of an open-ended future shaped by our capacity to innovate and adapt resonates deeply with my own outlook. The book serves as a powerful antidote to pessimism, reminding us that the pursuit of knowledge is not only a means of solving problems but also an end in itself.

8. Recollections of My Life by Santiago Ramón y Cajal

   Cajal’s autobiography is both an inspiring personal narrative and a profound exploration of the scientific process. As one of the pioneers of modern neuroscience, Cajal’s reflections on his journey from a small-town boy to a groundbreaking scientist reveal the interplay between curiosity, perseverance, and creativity. His belief in the power of individual effort and the joys of discovery resonates deeply with me. Cajal’s life story underscores the importance of embracing challenges, pursuing one’s passions, and remaining open to the unexpected paths that innovation often takes.

Together, these books have shaped my worldview in profound ways. They’ve taught me to embrace uncertainty, value collaboration, and recognize the power of paradigm shifts. Most importantly, they’ve reinforced my belief in the resilience and ingenuity of the human spirit. Whether confronting the biases that cloud our judgment or the hierarchies that constrain creativity, the lessons of these works guide my thinking as I seek to understand the complex landscape of innovation and human nature.

I should also throw one more book into the mix The Coming Wave, by Michael Bhaskar and Mustafa Suleyman. Each of these works has provided a lens through which to understand the complex interplay of ideas, innovation, policy and human behavior.

Fluidity

Worldviews are not static. They are living, breathing thoughts that evolve through the integration of diverse perspectives. To contribute to this evolution is to participate in something larger than oneself. It is to see the unseen and speak the unspoken, knowing that your voice, however small, ripples through the collective mind of humanity. By stepping into this role, you do not merely witness history, you shape it. As Miłosz observed, "the passionless cannot change history." And as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe famously remarked, “The eyes see only what they are prepared to see.” In other words, keep an open mind and be passionate about a cause.

The question is not whether you can see what others do not, but what you will do with what you see.

Stay curious

Colin