Weekly Reading List [3.23.12]

1. GOOGLE BOOKS HELPS REVEAL HOW WORDS COME AND GO & NGRAM VIEWER - This is a great article about how the digitization of books has helped scientists discover how words come and go in society. It has helped reveal patterns in language throughout history. For example, "in Hebrew there was a five-fold increase in word births around 1917 when the Balfour Declaration laid the foundation for modern Israel and revived Hebrew as a spoken language." You can also go to the Ngram Viewer and type in two words and see how they've progressed through history.

2. DON'T HIRE THIS MAN - Jeffrey Sachs is known throughout the development sector for his high profile work. I had been hearing that he was up for nomination of the next President of the World Bank. This is a very interesting article about how he could be a poor candidate, in terms of stretching the World Bank away from historical aid and moving towards empowering local individuals to change their own community. In light of the criticisms of Invisible Children and the "white man's guilt" this is a great article highlighting how markets and local entrepreneurs are making greater changes than aid.

3. THE WHITE SAVIOR COMPLEX & KONY2012 AND THE PROSPECTS FOR CHANGE- It is no secret that I have a more critical view of the KONY2012 campaign. I follow a novelist Teju Cole on twitter (@tejucole). In the first article, he has been openly critical of what he calls the "White Savior Industrial Complex" (essential the West, feeling like it has all the answers, and can swoop in and solve complex, culturally sensitive problems). He starts the article with some of his recent tweets, but keep reading. It's a thought provoking article, even if you disagree.

In the second article, there was a quote at the end that particularly resonated with me "If the film were actually about change, it might have addressed its own paradox: that trying yet again to end a military conflict with more of the same sort of military engagement will probably cost too many civilian lives. Alas, there is no real resolution offered here, only publicity. And realizing consciousness would be great if coupled with long-term informed attention rather than a mainly U.S.-based buzz.

4. 4 WAYS THAT CHINESE BUSINESSES ARE REDEFINING CUSTOMER SERVICE & HOW WHOLE FOODS BECAME THE LUXURY BRAND OF MILLENNIALS - A few weeks ago J. and I had dinner with friends and the conversation rolled around to customer service and how at least here in San Francisco, people are craving more customer service oriented/small town feel experiences. No longer do we want to live in anonymity, shopping in huge stores void of flavor and culture. I thought these were two great articles about changes happening in the world of marketing and brand.

*Who is seeing the Hunger Games this weekend?!?*