Saturday, May 17, 2025

Saturday, May 10, 2025

book: The Art of Impossible by Steven Kotler

The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer: Kotler, Steven: 9780062977519: Amazon.com: Books


Steven Kotler is known for his work on human performance, flow states, and exponential technologies.

Here are some of his most notable and highly-regarded books:

  1. "The Art of Impossible" (2021) - A practical guide to achieving peak performance through accessing flow states and achieving what seems impossible.
  2. "Stealing Fire" (2017) - Co-authored with Jamie Wheal, this book explores how elite performers are using altered states to dramatically accelerate performance.
  3. "The Rise of Superman" (2014) - Focuses on how extreme athletes use flow states to accomplish extraordinary feats.
  4. "Abundance" (2012) - Co-authored with Peter Diamandis, this optimistic book looks at how technology can solve humanity's biggest challenges.
  5. "Bold" (2015) - Also co-authored with Peter Diamandis, this book serves as a guide for entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on exponential technologies.
  6. "Tomorrowland" (2015) - An exploration of emerging technologies and their potential to reshape our future.
  7. "The Future Is Faster Than You Think" (2020) - Co-authored with Peter Diamandis, examining how converging technologies are transforming business, industries, and our lives.

Sunday, April 20, 2025

music: Andreas Vollenweider

Andreas Vollenweider - Wikipedia
is a Swiss harpist. He is generally categorised as a new-age musician
and uses a modified electroacoustic harp of his own design

Caverna Magica (...Under The Tree - In The Cave...) - YouTube

Caverna Magica - Wikipedia

The songs in "Caverna Magica" by Andreas Vollenweider don't use lyrics in a conventional language. This 1983 album features Vollenweider's distinctive harp playing accompanied by a made-up, invented language that he created specifically for this album.

The vocal parts are performed in this fictional language, which consists of syllables and sounds that resemble speech but don't translate to any known human language. This invented vocal style contributes to the album's mystical, otherworldly atmosphere that complements its concept of a journey through a magical cave.

This approach of using invented languages or vocalizations is not uncommon in new age and ambient music, where the human voice is often treated as another instrument rather than a vehicle for literal meaning through lyrics.