Not wanting to settle for sharing mediocre pieces, it has taken me a bit longer than usual to offer up some recommended reading. But I have finally assembled a collection of seven pieces that I am happy to share with you today. If you are interested in technology-focused links, I share them every day on the blog, so come visit sometime. Here’s what you should spend some time with this weekend on other topics:
The Fisherman’s Secret: A great story in The San Francisco Chronicle about a modern-day treasure hunt. And it all started with two GoPros, the little toy camera that is changing the world, one new perspective at a time. This is the story of San Francisco fisherman Giuseppe “Joe” Pennisi, and it is worth spending however long it takes for you to read it. I won’t spoil the ending for you. [ Additional Reading: Eyes on the High Seas: Surveillance from space is making things harder for illegal fishing.]
The Great Chinese Art Heist: Sweden, Norway, England, and France. One after another, the greatest works of Chinese art keep getting stolen from Museums. The heists confounded the experts and led to some asking the question, was the Chinese government behind this crime wave? GQ magazine investigates and weaves together some interesting threads.
The Jungle Prince of Delhi: The fabulous and fabulist story of the eccentric royal family of Oudh. Probably one of the best pieces I have read in a long long time. Well done, Ellen Barry. This should definitely be a Netflix special.
From Berth to Death: A wonderful and educational story about how the expansion of global trade led to influenza becoming a global disease. There is a lot to learn from this story as more people and objects criss-cross the planet than ever before in our increasingly hyperconnected world. We might all be one pandemic away from becoming a cosmic roadkill.
The cost of living in the Bay Area: Harper’s magazine is one publication I have no qualms shelling out for. Wes Enzinna uses wonderful writing and a hysteria-free approach to write about a real and growing problem.
How an NBA executive stole $13 million from Sacramento Kings: There are just so many lessons packed in here, especially for Silicon Valley, where a lot of people work on blind trust and companies lack checks and balances.
Almost everything you know about Aladdin is wrong. Just a great personal take that casts new light on a story we all were told as kids, which has also inspired multiple Disney movies.